Harare City Council on Saturday demolished tuckshops at Mabelreign Shopping Centre, citing illegal construction and improper land use, as part of broader efforts to restore urban order and modernise commercial spaces.
Council officials moved in early in the morning, flattening the near-complete structures which had been erected without approved building plans. The site, originally designated for parking, was left strewn with rubble following the operation.
Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, confirmed the demolitions, saying the local authority was enforcing planning regulations and promoting orderly urban development.
“The reason why they were demolished is that there were no approved plans for the tuckshops. The structures were built on land designated as a car park and were aesthetically not in keeping with a modern city in that part of town,” he said.
The demolitions have sparked debate after a leaked internal report suggested that the council had previously considered proposals for temporary market facilities at the shopping centre.
However, Mayor Mafume clarified that only preliminary steps had been taken and no final approvals were granted.
“What was approved was a desire to enter into a partnership. However, once such approvals happen in the SME committee, they must proceed to the planning committee, which then evaluates the suitability of the site and the requirements for proper infrastructure, including permanent brick-and-mortar structures,” he said.
The mayor emphasised the need to transform Harare’s shopping centres through proper planning and investment rather than allowing unregulated developments.
“We need to find a way of truly transforming our shopping centres instead of devaluing them. Our shopping centres require transformation and modernisation in line with the Government’s broader development agenda and the city’s master plan,” he added.
The developments follow the leak of Report No. 169 DHCS 2026, prepared by the City of Harare’s Department of Housing and Community Services in January, which outlined a proposal for a “temporary modern mixed-use market facility” at Mabelreign Shopping Centre.
Despite the controversy, the council maintains that enforcing planning regulations remains critical to maintaining order, preserving property values, and guiding the capital’s long-term urban renewal strategy.
