Harare, Zimbabwe – The long-running land disputes in Crowhill have flared up once again, with residents and prospective homeowners raising alarm over fresh reports of double allocation of stands.
This development has reignited tensions in the sprawling suburb northeast of Harare, where thousands of families are battling to secure their rightful properties.
Over the past few weeks, several homeowners have come forward claiming that their stands—some purchased years ago—are now being sold or allocated to new buyers under unclear circumstances. Community leaders have accused certain developers and middlemen of fueling confusion by issuing multiple offer letters for the same stands, leaving residents in a state of uncertainty.
“We are tired of paying for land we already bought. Each time we think the issue is resolved, someone comes with new documents claiming ownership of our stand,” said a frustrated homeowner, who requested anonymity for fear of victimization.
The Crowhill development has been dogged by ownership wrangles and fraudulent sales dating back over a decade. While court rulings have nullified some illegal title deeds and regularization exercises have been attempted, the issue of overlapping allocations has never been fully resolved.
The situation worsened recently when new developers demanded regularisation fees of up to US$300 from existing stand holders, threatening to revoke allocations for those who refuse to comply. Residents argue that this amounts to paying for the same property twice.
In response to the resurgence of double allocations, Crowhill residents have begun organizing legal action, demanding accountability and a comprehensive audit of all stands.
“We want the Ministry of Lands and the City of Harare to step in. It’s unfair for innocent buyers to lose their investments because of the mistakes and greed of unscrupulous developers,” said a member of the residents’ association.
Legal experts warn that the lack of strict oversight over land sales has allowed rogue agents to exploit unsuspecting buyers. Without urgent government intervention, they say, the area risks becoming a hotbed of property disputes and lawsuits.
Crowhill remains one of Harare’s fast-growing residential zones, but the continuous disputes have tarnished its image and eroded buyer confidence.
ZiMetro News will continue following the story as residents push for a resolution to the resurfacing double allocation crisis.