Mutare’s Battle Over Illegal Structures Reflects a Larger Crisis

Mutare City’s relentless demolition of illegal structures has stirred fierce opposition, but it signals a deeper struggle within Zimbabwe’s urban spaces. Churches, vendors, and service providers have emerged as unexpected adversaries to the city council’s efforts, frustrating municipal ambitions.

The demolitions, guided by President Mnangagwa’s Call to Action, have faced aggressive resistance. In recent operations, vendors and informal traders have pushed back, defying repeated warnings. Acting Mutare Town Clerk, Blessing Chafesuka, underscored that this struggle goes beyond a simple municipal conflict—it embodies a collision between policy and survival.

In neighborhoods like Zimta Park, Hobhouse, and Dangamvura, it’s evident how deep-rooted this issue has become. Makeshift cabins selling everything from toiletries to internet services have been wiped out, leaving many vendors staring at shattered livelihoods. Their resistance isn’t just stubbornness; it’s survival. For many, these illegal structures offer a glimmer of income in an increasingly unstable economy. Demolishing them feels like ripping away more than just their physical stalls—it’s tearing at the fragile threads of economic existence.

Mutare’s push to demolish these structures aligns with Mnangagwa’s broader 2030 vision, aimed at modernizing Zimbabwe’s infrastructure and urban spaces. Yet, while the president’s Call to Action sets noble goals for improved service delivery, it’s increasingly evident that a top-down approach alone may fail to address the core issues. The question is not whether illegal structures should exist, but why they proliferate in the first place.

Municipal councils often cite issues such as narcotics peddlers and crime hotspots arising from these illegal structures. This has been a longstanding concern, especially in areas where drug trafficking and other illicit activities have become interwoven into the urban fabric. Yet, while the demolitions seek to cleanse these spaces, they may inadvertently push these activities further underground.

Council officials remain resolute. “We will continue implementing this initiative in line with the president’s vision,” says Chafesuka. His words reflect a determination, but they also hint at an undercurrent of futility. Demolishing illegal structures is an action, not a solution. The cycle will likely repeat unless the root causes—economic desperation, lack of formal market access, and systemic failures in urban planning—are addressed.

The vendors’ defiance underscores how little faith many Zimbabweans have in government initiatives aimed at modernizing their spaces. For many, such promises feel distant, like grand ambitions disconnected from the daily grind of survival. In urban centers across Zimbabwe, the sight of informal stalls and illegal structures is a testament to both resilience and dysfunction. The formal economy fails to accommodate them, so they create their own economies—illegal, yes, but vital.

For the city council, abiding by a master plan and removing unsightly structures is a matter of public order. But what happens when that order comes at the cost of people’s livelihoods? The policy intent of Mnangagwa’s blueprint is not in question—it is, after all, aimed at uplifting Zimbabwe towards the modernized Vision 2030. But the execution, particularly in cities like Mutare, reveals an inherent tension between ideals and realities.

One of the government’s key concerns, as outlined in its policy document, is the misuse of leases issued for temporary occupation. These leases, initially meant as stop-gap measures, often evolve into permanent setups. The conversion of temporary permits into permanent title deeds highlights the blurred lines between legality and necessity in Zimbabwe’s urban landscape.

But to genuinely modernize and move toward the 2030 vision, authorities must also acknowledge the socio-economic realities driving these informal practices. Demolitions may cleanse urban spaces in the short term, but they risk ignoring the larger systemic issues at play—chiefly, the chronic lack of formal market spaces and the failure to offer viable alternatives for small-scale traders.

Zimbabwe’s cities are evolving, but how they evolve will depend on balancing the need for modernization with the harsh realities faced by those living in economic limbo. In the absence of viable alternatives, informal vendors will continue to resist demolition efforts. A truly modern city requires not just shiny infrastructure but also inclusive spaces for all its citizens, particularly the most vulnerable.

For now, Mutare remains in the grip of this urban struggle. Demolition teams may continue their work, but as long as there are economic gaps to be filled, makeshift stalls will likely rise from the rubble. It’s a cycle that reveals the ongoing tug-of-war between survival and urban order—one that extends far beyond Mutare’s borders and into the very heart of Zimbabwe’s development ambitions.

The Zim Bulletin