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Source: Harare stands firm on demolitions of illegal structures – herald

Diana Nherera

The City of Harare has reaffirmed its decision to demolish illegally constructed structures on land reserved for public amenities, wetlands, road reserves and critical infrastructure, saying affected residents were repeatedly warned before notices were issued.

The position was outlined in a response by City of Harare spokesperson Mr Stanley Gama to concerns raised by the Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART) over demolition notices affecting thousands of households across the capital.

In a correspondence addressed to ZNOART national chairperson, Mr Shalvar Chikomba, that was seen by The Herald, Mr Gama said all areas identified in the notices remain earmarked for demolition.

“All areas mentioned in the document are earmarked for demolition. All structures without council approvals and built on areas earmarked for social amenities or built on top of our water or sewer infrastructure will be demolished,” he said.

“The document has full reasons why the structures will be demolished.”

The city maintained that residents had been adequately informed of the impending action and given sufficient time to respond.

Mr Gama said the council’s responsibility was to preserve orderly urban development and protect public infrastructure from illegal encroachment.

He urged prospective property buyers to verify the status of land with the local authority before purchasing or developing it.

“To avoid such challenges, people must stop buying land from land barons and land criminals,” he said.

“First seek clarity from the City of Harare before building or buying any piece of land.”

Addressing concerns raised by residents’ groups over the possibility of regularising some of the affected properties, Mr Gama said the council would only consider regularisation where it is legally and practically feasible.

“We will not regularise where it is impossible to regularise. Land meant for a school will have to be used to build a school,” he said.

“We cannot regularise and endorse lawlessness. Otherwise, people will end up building houses even at Rufaro Stadium, knowing that the City of Harare will regularise. We cannot turn Harare into a jungle.”

Mr Gama said while some affected parties had obtained court orders, others had not, adding that in certain cases, demolitions could proceed without court intervention depending on the circumstances.

He argued that the notices issued by the council were clear and that the illegal status of some structures required no further explanation.

“The notices are clear and unambiguous, and illegal structures require no other explanation than that they are illegal,” he said.

Mr Gama also called on residents’ associations to intensify public awareness campaigns on the dangers of purchasing land from illegal land dealers.

“We hope residents’ associations carry out educational campaigns on the dangers of buying land from land barons,” he said.

“The consequences look severe when we restore order, but why build on illegally acquired land?”

He warned that illegal settlements often place excessive pressure on sewer systems, roads and other municipal services, affecting law-abiding residents who pay rates and comply with planning regulations.

“When sewer systems start blocking because of illegal settlements, residents will accuse the council of not doing its work, so it has to protect those legally settled and paying their bills,” he said.

Mr Gama reiterated that structures built without approval on wetlands, road reserves, school sites, clinic land, and areas reserved for public amenities would be demolished as part of efforts to restore order and enforce urban planning regulations.

The city’s response comes amid growing debate over the demolition notices, with residents’ groups calling for greater engagement and clarity while authorities insist that enforcement action is necessary to curb illegal settlements and protect public land.

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Source: Residents’ trust calls for transparency on demolition plans – herald

Diana Nherera

The Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART) has called for transparency and urgent engagement over demolition notices recently issued by the City of Harare, saying the development has created uncertainty among thousands of affected residents.

In a statement, ZNOART national chairperson, Mr Shalvar Chikomba, said the organisation had received numerous concerns from residents whose homes, businesses and other structures could be affected by the planned demolitions.

Residents from suburbs including Kuwadzana, Budiriro, Glen View, Mabvuku, Mabelreign, Greendale, Belvedere, Waterfalls, Hatfield, Retreat and Msasa have approached the organisation seeking clarity on the status of the notices and the future of their properties and investments.

“While we note reports that Government has directed a temporary halt to demolitions and that consultations are underway, the issuance of notices has created uncertainty, anxiety and fear among affected families, many of whom invested their life savings in acquiring land and constructing homes,” said Mr Chikomba.

“ZNOART calls for transparency, accountability and meaningful stakeholder engagement on this matter.”

The residents’ body said there was a need for authorities to provide clear information regarding the status of the demolition notices already issued, as well as the specific areas, stands and structures that have been earmarked for possible demolition.

The trust also called on the City of Harare to explain the criteria being used to determine whether structures are illegal and liable for demolition, as well as measures being put in place to protect homebuyers and residents who may have acquired properties in good faith.

The organisation further sought clarification on the role of Government directives and ongoing consultations in determining the final outcome of the process.

It also requested information on whether affected residents would be given an opportunity to regularise their properties, appeal decisions or challenge demolition orders before any enforcement action is taken.

In addition, the trust called for clear timelines regarding consultations, investigations and possible enforcement measures, as well as support mechanisms for vulnerable households that may be affected.

“ZNOART believes that while the protection of public land, wetlands, road reserves and land designated for public amenities is important, the rights, dignity and welfare of residents must also be safeguarded,” said Mr Chikomba.

“Any actions taken must be lawful, transparent, humane and consistent with the principles of natural justice.”

It urged the City of Harare, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and other relevant authorities to engage openly with residents, residents’ associations and other stakeholders to ensure sustainable and lasting solutions.

It also called for an urgent stakeholder engagement meeting involving city authorities, Government representatives, residents’ associations and civil society organisations to discuss the issue and chart a way forward.

“ZNOART remains committed to constructive dialogue, accountability, community development and the protection of residents’ interests while supporting lawful urban planning and environmental preservation,” said Mr Chikomba.

The concerns come amid ongoing discussions on illegal settlements, wetland protection and compliance with urban planning regulations in Harare and other urban centres.

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Source: Copacabana, Gulf Complex flagged as drug hotspots – herald

Diana Nherera

COPACABANA and Gulf Complex in Harare’s central business district have been identified as some of the areas where illicit drugs are being sold, amid growing calls for stronger interventions to combat substance abuse in the capital.

Permanent Secretary for Harare Metropolitan Province, Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Shingirayi Mushamba, said authorities need a deeper understanding of the drug abuse problem, including the substances being sold, those involved in distribution, the age groups affected and the factors driving drug use.

Dr Mushamba said this at a stakeholders meeting on drug and substance abuse that was convened by the Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Senator Charles Tawengwa on Wednesday.

Dr Mushamba said some drugs were being openly sold in the city, including pills disguised in fruit boxes and marketed to both young people and adults.

He said efforts to address the challenge must go beyond focusing on commonly known substances and seek to uncover the full extent of the problem.

“When we talk about drugs, I have a very strong feeling that there are people who think what they are doing is not drug abuse and that the problem only happens next door,” he said.

“I want us to be in the midst of the challenge ourselves and ask which drugs are being sold, where, by whom and at what time. Let us identify them.

“Of course, we often focus on the usual cough syrups, but there are other hidden issues. The more we ignore them, the more we do an injustice to ourselves.”

Dr Mushamba said understanding the drivers of drug uptake among different age groups and identifying substances commonly abused by adults would help stakeholders craft more effective and targeted interventions.

“What are the drivers of drug uptake? Which age groups are most affected? Among adults, which drugs are being abused and why? Once we understand the phenomenon fully, we can begin to propose solutions that truly work,” he said.

Meanwhile, Harare City Council’s Mental Health Coordinator Mr Ray Moyo, who represented the city’s Provincial Mental Health Officer Ms Zephania Chikudu, called for greater attention to the role of legal alcohol in substance abuse.

He described alcohol as a gateway substance and urged authorities to regulate the proliferation of liquor outlets across the city.

“Look at how bottle stores are sprouting everywhere in town. Every corner has a bar. They may have liquor licences, but that is where it starts,” said Mr Moyo.

“There is a need to limit the number of liquor licences. Some bars open as early as 7 am and only close around 2 am.”

Other stakeholders at the meeting expressed concern that several areas where drugs are allegedly sold and consumed, including informal drinking spots and shebeens, remain largely unmonitored by authorities.

The calls come as the Government and various stakeholders intensify efforts to combat drug and substance abuse, which has emerged as a major public health and social challenge affecting communities across the country.

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Source: Mabelreign residents warned as rock blasting works begin – herald

Diana Nherera

THE City of Harare has warned residents in Mabelreign suburb to observe strict safety measures as chemical rock blasting works commence today as part of an ongoing water infrastructure upgrade programme.

The blasting operations, which will run until Monday next week, will be carried out at the intersection of Westminster Avenue and Ridgeview Drive under a water pipe replacement project being implemented by the City of Harare in partnership with Helcraw Water.

In a notice, Acting Town Clerk Advocate Warren Chiwawa said the works are aimed at improving water infrastructure and enhancing service delivery in the area.

He urged residents to cooperate with project teams and adhere to all safety guidelines throughout the exercise.

“Residents are strongly advised not to go beyond barricaded areas, to keep a minimum distance of 15 to 30 metres from the drilling and blasting site, and to follow all barricades, signage and instructions from site personnel,” read the notice.

The city also warned residents against touching, tampering with or entering areas containing drilled or filled holes and equipment.

“Residents should not touch, tamper with or enter areas with drilled or filled holes and equipment, as the chemical used is caustic and may cause burns,” said Advocate Chiwawa.

Parents and guardians have been urged to ensure that children remain away from the work site at all times.

The City of Harare said the exercise forms part of broader efforts to modernise and strengthen water infrastructure to improve the reliability and efficiency of water supplies to residents.

Authorities appealed for public cooperation and understanding during the project’s implementation, saying the temporary inconvenience would result in long-term improvements in water service delivery.

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ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday rejected a proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a face-to-face meeting on the 4-year-old conflict, saying he sees “no point” in it.

Thursday’s letter, the first public message Zelenskyy has written directly to Putin since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, was a sweeping critique of the Russian leader’s 26 years in power as well as some taunts about his age.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin described Zelenskyy’s open letter proposing the meeting as “boorish.”

“Is it a way to create conditions for personal meetings and talks, or create an environment which makes any personal meetings impossible?” Putin said at a question-and-answer session at his annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. “I think it’s the second.”

Putin added that a Russian businessman whom he didn’t identify traveled to Kyiv last month and met with Zelenskyy to hear his offer of a personal meeting.

However, Putin said that he currently sees “no point” in such a meeting, especially after a May 22 drone attack by Ukraine on a college dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region that Moscow said killed 21 and wounded scores of others.

In response to Zelenskyy’s barbs about his age and long stay in power, the 73-year-old Putin pointed at other global leaders who are older, adding that “the main thing isn’t age; the main thing is the ability to work.”

He also mocked Zelenskyy’s rocky Oval Office meeting in 2025 and thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for “educating” Zelenskyy “before the eyes of the whole world” and teaching him a proper dress code.

“There is still a lot to be done,” he said.

Zelenskyy acknowledged shifting U.S. priorities, saying it would be wrong to simply wait for the Trump administration to return its attention to ending the fighting in Ukraine while it remains heavily focused on the Iran war.

In Washington, Trump said Thursday it “would be great” if Putin and Zelenskyy meet.

Putin has previously offered for Zelenskyy to come to Moscow for talks, an offer that the Ukrainian leader pointedly rejected. Putin said last month he doesn’t exclude a meeting in a third country, but only when there is a deal to sign.

On Thursday, Putin again rejected Zelenskyy’s push for an immediate ceasefire, arguing that Moscow wants a comprehensive settlement, not a temporary truce.

Putin said Russia is open for a compromise on Ukraine in line with understandings reached at his last year’s summit with Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, adding that Ukraine needs to accept them to make a deal to end the conflict.

“Naturally, the Ukrainian side would like us to suspend the advances made by Russian troops,” he said. “But it would be better to end the war by agreeing to the compromises that were discussed in Anchorage.”

Asked about Iran, Putin voiced hope for an eventual deal to secure lasting peace. He shrugged off claims that Moscow provided Iran with satellite images, saying that Tehran could use widely available commercial ones.

“As for weapons, Iran hasn’t asked us for them and we haven’t supplied any weapons to Iran,” he said, adding that Russia stands ready to take enriched uranium for storage as part of a potential peace deal, and that Moscow has stayed in contact with Iran, the U.S. and Israel.

Global turbulence

In a speech earlier Friday at the forum, Putin said developing countries have gained an increasingly important role in the global economy, while the share of output by Western countries has shrunk.

He accused the West of undermining the global economy and finances with unilateral sanctions. By freezing Russian assets abroad through sanctions, Western nations eroded trust in their own currencies, he said.

“The sanctions and blocking of Russia’s sovereign reserves have irreversibly impacted the standing of international currencies, the dollar and the euro,” he said. “Just like Russia, any other country could lose access to their legitimate assets in dollars or euros, as well as Western financial and payment systems.”

He alleged that high state debt had helped undermine global trust in Western institutions.

“The roots of the current global turbulence lie in the transition from a vertical, hierarchical model, which served the interests of a small number of states, to a more complex, distributed and multipolar one,” Putin said. “Russia views global changes not only as a threat but also as immense opportunities. And to capitalize on them, we aim to act swiftly and pragmatically.”

The Russian leader said the world needed a “modern, flexible and responsible financial architecture — free from risks, bans and barriers.”

Putin stresses Russia’s macroeconomic stability

Putin played down Russia’s economic slowdown and sought to emphasize its macroeconomic stability. He noted that Russia’s state debt is a fraction of that in Western countries and its budget deficit is considerably smaller, compared with the West.

The forum comes at a time when Russia’s economic outlook has clouded amid the conflict in Ukraine. The government raised taxes and increased domestic borrowing to keep its budget deficit under control.

On Thursday, Putin told heads of international media on the forum’s sidelines that it was an exaggeration to say Russia’s economy was struggling. He noted that his government had taken deliberate steps to cool the economy to keep inflation under control.

Putin has used the St. Petersburg forum, likened to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to showcase his country’s economic advances and encourage foreign investment. While Western officials and business leaders have stayed away after Putin sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, Russia has sought guests from elsewhere to underline its declared goal of promoting a “multipolar world.”

Saudi Arabia sent a large delegation this year, and the presidents of Uzbekistan and Tanzania and vice president of China also gave speeches Friday. A U.S. official, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., head of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, is attending for the first time in years.

Cook was singled out in the audience during a question-and-answer session following Putin’s speech. Cook praised the beauty of St. Petersburg and Putin thanked him for the remarks about his hometown and asked to convey his greetings to Trump.

Hours before the forum opened Wednesday, a Ukrainian drone attack set ablaze an oil terminal in St. Petersburg and also hit a nearby naval base.

Putin declared that Russia was “calmly and resolutely” moving to reach its goals in Ukraine. He acknowledged the damage from Ukrainian drone attacks deep inside Russia and vowed to build up defenses.

“They do inflict a certain damage,” he said. “For us, it means only one thing: we need to strengthen our security, strengthen air defenses, and we will do that.” – AP

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