ZHRC calls for lawful, humane approach to demolitions and crackdown on land barons

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has urged local authorities to handle the demolition of illegal structures in a lawful, orderly and humane way, warning that enforcement alone will not solve the country’s growing housing crisis.

In a statement issued on Thursday, 5 November, the commission acknowledged that the government and councils have a legitimate duty to enforce planning laws, protect public land and stop building on environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands. However, it said demolitions often have a severe impact on families.

“The loss of a home can occasion profound emotional distress, financial hardship and social dislocation, with particularly difficult consequences for children, older persons and other vulnerable members of society,” the commission said.

It called on authorities to follow all legal and administrative procedures before demolishing homes, to consider alternatives where possible, and to carry out enforcement “with due regard to human dignity and the rights and welfare of affected persons”.

The ZHRC said the country needed to confront the reasons illegal settlements keep springing up in the first place.

According to the commission, rapid urbanisation, population growth and a shortage of affordable housing have left desperate home seekers easy prey for land barons and fraudsters. Many people spend their life savings on residential stands, only to discover later that the land was allocated illegally or is unsuitable for housing.

“This creates fertile ground for land barons and other unscrupulous actors to exploit the legitimate aspirations of ordinary Zimbabweans by selling or allocating land in undesignated spaces, including areas unsuitable for residential development,” the commission said.

It called for better housing delivery, more properly serviced residential land and improved urban planning to keep up with demand. Councils, it said, should do more to reduce housing waiting lists, identify new land for development, allocate stands transparently and give residents accurate information about approved housing schemes.

The commission also called for tougher action against land barons, urging law enforcement agencies to investigate illegal land sales, corruption and unlawful allocations, and to hold those responsible to account.

“The law must be enforced against those who profit from the desperation and legitimate aspirations of home seekers,” it said.

The ZHRC urged people looking to buy land to check with their local authority that any allocation is legal and that the land is zoned for housing, and to avoid informal deals.

“Members of the public are encouraged to avoid informal land transactions and to utilise recognised and legally established housing delivery channels,” it said.

The commission said protecting human rights, preserving the environment and promoting orderly urban development should not be seen as competing goals.

“The pursuit of orderly human settlements, environmental sustainability and the protection of human rights are not mutually exclusive objectives. Indeed, they are complementary and should inform a coherent and sustainable approach to urban development,” it said.