By Staff Reporter
CHIPINGE – More than 100 structures have been demolished by Chipinge Rural District Council in a controversial operation that has left scores of families homeless and placed more than 1,000 households at risk of eviction, triggering a growing human rights and humanitarian crisis in the district.
The demolitions have also raised questions about the government’s position on Operation Chenesa/Hlanzeka, following statements by Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe that the programme was not intended to destroy people’s homes and livelihoods.
The minister has maintained that the clean-up campaign is aimed at restoring order, public safety and environmental integrity, rather than indiscriminately demolishing residential properties. His position has become particularly contentious amid reports of homes being destroyed in different parts of the country.
The developments in Chipinge have therefore brought renewed scrutiny to the implementation of the programme and the apparent gap between the government’s stated intentions and the experiences of affected communities.
The demolitions were carried out under notices issued by Chipinge Rural District Council as part of Operation Chenesa, with council authorities arguing that the structures were illegally developed on planned land in contravention of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act.
However, affected residents, civil society organisations and community leaders have condemned the exercise, describing it as inhumane and unconstitutional, particularly given the scale of displacement and the vulnerability of those affected.
The affected settlements are located in a ward represented by Councillor Singatini Humbe, where residents say they were allocated land by Village Head Munyokowere and subsequently invested their life savings in building homes, shops and other structures.
What began as a land occupation dispute has now escalated into a humanitarian emergency, with hundreds of families facing homelessness and uncertainty.
Government’s Position Contradicted by Demolitions
Minister Garwe’s remarks on Operation Chenesa have placed the government’s approach to the clean-up exercise under the spotlight.
In remarks reported by the media, Garwe said the programme was not a war on people’s livelihoods or property, but an effort to restore order while ensuring that local authorities provide designated spaces for traders.
He has also publicly stressed that the government’s clean-up directive should not be interpreted as permission to destroy people’s homes.
However, the demolition of more than 100 structures in Chipinge raises questions about how the minister’s assurances are being reconciled with enforcement actions by local authorities.
While government maintains that the programme is intended to target illegal developments and restore orderly settlements, affected families argue that they are bearing the consequences of land allocation and planning failures involving institutions and traditional leadership structures.
The situation has renewed calls for the government to clarify the extent of demolitions permitted under the programme and the safeguards available to families facing displacement.
Homes Reduced to Rubble
On Wednesday, demolition teams moved into the affected settlements and destroyed more than 100 structures deemed illegal by council authorities.
Residents watched helplessly as homes, tuckshops, boundary walls and other developments were reduced to rubble.
Some families were seen salvaging roofing sheets, doors, windows and household belongings from the debris, while others stood in disbelief as years of hard work and investment disappeared within hours.
Many residents claim they acted in good faith after receiving land allocations from traditional leadership structures and believed they had legitimate authority to settle on the land.
“We built our homes after being allocated land by local leadership. We invested everything we had. Now we have nowhere to go,” said one affected resident.
For many families, the demolitions represent the loss of lifetime investments and the destruction of their primary source of security and dignity.
More Than 1,000 Families Facing Displacement
Community leaders estimate that more than 1,000 families have been served with notices ordering them to vacate or regularise their structures.
While more than 100 structures have already been demolished, hundreds more remain under threat.
Residents fear that unless urgent intervention is secured, entire communities could be wiped out in the coming days and weeks.
The scale of the operation has alarmed human rights defenders and residents’ associations, who warn that Chipinge could soon witness one of the largest displacement crises in recent years.
Women and Children Bearing the Greatest Burden
The demolition exercise has disproportionately affected vulnerable groups.
Community representatives estimate that approximately 80 of the affected households are female-headed families responsible for caring for children and elderly dependants.
Many of these families have limited resources and no alternative accommodation as human rights advocates say women and children are now exposed to heightened risks of homelessness, hunger, disease, exploitation and insecurity.
Children have reportedly witnessed the destruction of their homes and communities, creating trauma and uncertainty about their future.
To make matters worse, several schools and learning facilities within the affected settlements have reportedly been destroyed or disrupted.
Parents fear that many learners may miss classes, examinations and critical learning opportunities as families struggle to secure shelter and basic necessities.
Education campaigners have described the destruction of schools as a serious setback to children’s development and a threat to their right to education.
Civil Society Mobilises Legal Action
The ongoing demolitions have triggered a strong response from civil society organisations operating in Chipinge and beyond.
Human rights defenders, community leaders and residents’ associations are mobilising legal resources to approach the High Court, seeking an urgent interdict to stop further demolitions.
They argue that while local authorities have a responsibility to enforce planning laws, enforcement must be conducted in a manner that respects constitutional rights, human dignity and established human rights principles.
Lawyers involved in preparing the court challenge are expected to argue that the demolitions are causing irreparable harm and that affected families are being rendered homeless without adequate safeguards.
Civil society groups also want the courts to examine the role of various authorities in the allocation and development of the disputed land.
Constitutional Rights at Stake
Legal experts and rights advocates argue that the ongoing demolitions raise serious constitutional questions.
They point to Section 51 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, which guarantees the right to human dignity.
They also cite Section 68, which provides every person with the right to administrative conduct that is lawful, reasonable, proportionate and procedurally fair.
Of particular importance is Section 74, which protects people from arbitrary eviction and prohibits the demolition of homes without a court order made after considering all relevant circumstances.
The destruction of homes and schools has further raised concerns under Section 75, which guarantees the right to education, and Section 81, which requires the best interests of children to be treated as paramount in every matter concerning them.
Additionally, Section 28 places an obligation on the State to take reasonable measures to enable everyone to access adequate shelter.
Human rights organisations argue that any action likely to result in mass homelessness must be carefully balanced against these constitutional protections.
International Human Rights Obligations
Beyond the Constitution, activists argue that Zimbabwe has obligations under regional and international human rights instruments.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) recognises the right to an adequate standard of living, including housing.
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to which Zimbabwe is a State Party, recognises the right to adequate housing.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) requires governments and public authorities to ensure that the best interests of children are a primary consideration in all decisions affecting them.
Civil society organisations have also cited the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which emphasise the protection of human dignity, family welfare and children’s rights.
The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has repeatedly stated that evictions should only occur as a last resort and must be accompanied by consultation, due process and measures to prevent homelessness and protect vulnerable groups.
Questions Over Accountability
The demolitions have sparked difficult questions regarding accountability and governance.
Residents insist that they occupied the land after allocations by Village Head Munyokowere and argue that ordinary citizens relied on traditional leadership structures when making decisions to settle and build.
Community leaders are questioning how settlements were allowed to grow over time without decisive intervention from planning authorities, only for residents to face large-scale demolitions years later.
Many believe affected families should not carry the full burden of failures in land administration, planning oversight and coordination between traditional leaders and local authorities.
“There must be accountability at every level. Poor families should not be the only ones paying the price for governance failures,” said a local community leader.
The developments have also raised questions about the responsibility of the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in ensuring that local authorities implement government policies in line with the minister’s stated position on protecting people’s homes.
If Operation Chenesa is not intended to destroy residential properties, as Garwe has maintained, residents want to know what measures are being taken to prevent local authorities from carrying out demolitions that leave families homeless.
Calls for Immediate Intervention
Human rights groups, churches, community organisations and concerned residents are calling upon the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Parliament, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission and humanitarian agencies to urgently intervene.
They are demanding an immediate suspension of further demolitions pending meaningful dialogue, legal review and the development of humane solutions that protect affected families.
Civil society organisations argue that the issue has evolved beyond a planning dispute and become a humanitarian emergency involving housing rights, children’s welfare, education, public health and human dignity.
As families sift through piles of broken bricks and twisted metal searching for their belongings, uncertainty continues to hang over communities fearing that they may be next.
For hundreds of residents, the demolitions are not merely about non-compliant structures or planning regulations. They are about the loss of homes, livelihoods, educational opportunities and the dignity of some of Chipinge’s most vulnerable citizens.
With a High Court challenge now looming, the fate of more than 1,000 families may ultimately rest on whether the courts find that the enforcement of planning laws has been balanced against the constitutional and human rights obligations owed to every citizen.
Efforts to get comments from Chipinge RDC officials hit a snag.