The City of Harare has denied responsibility for the devastating floods that submerged homes in Glen View Extension, following viral videos showing residents wading through water-filled houses.
In a statement released after council officials visited the affected area, the municipality claimed the settlement is illegal and was developed without its approval by a private developer.
According to the City of Harare, the area known as Glen View Extension does not fall under council jurisdiction and was unlawfully developed on wetlands.
“Contrary to the lies being peddled on social media platforms, the area is not under the City of Harare and is an irregular settlement. The land belongs to a private developer who, without any council involvement, developed the stands and sold to individuals,” the council said.
The council further blamed the flooding on serious regulatory breaches, alleging that the developer ignored all planning and environmental requirements.
“The houses are built on wetlands. There are no approved plans, no proper drainage systems, sewer connections were done illegally and there is no Environmental Impact Assessment in place,” the statement added.
As a result, the city said it will summon the developer and contractor to urgently address drainage issues to prevent further loss of life.
🤔 Residents and Citizens Question Council’s ‘Ignorance’
The council’s explanation has triggered widespread scepticism, with many questioning how a large settlement could be built and connected to city services without municipal knowledge.
Social media user Ardie Mabasa asked:
“How does a developer connect to the city sewer line and you do not know about it?”
Others questioned selective enforcement. Vincent Mapfumo wrote:
“Tinomboona ma demolitions, ko uku sei kuchiriko if illegal? (We see demolitions elsewhere — why is this still standing if it’s illegal?)”
Concerns were also raised about accountability during disasters. Neil Chamisa commented:
“Who is responsible for the safety of residents during disasters, regardless of land status? People are already living there. Lives are at risk.”
The City of Harare ended its statement by urging the public to stop spreading what it called “false and alarming information,” but calls for clearer answers and accountability continue to grow as residents remain exposed to flooding risks.
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