More Belvedere Homes Face Demolition as High Court Boots Developer Over Fake Papers
The High Court has ruled that Brickstone Builders and Contractors must vacate a piece of municipal land in Ridgeview, Belvedere, after it emerged the company had no legal right to be there. The court found that Brickstone occupied the property and began construction without any official approval from the City of Harare.
Forged Letter Exposed by Ministry
Justice Regis Dembure granted the City’s request to evict the company, stating clearly that Brickstone had no lawful authority — direct or implied — to occupy or develop the land.
Brickstone could not produce basic documents such as a council allocation letter, a lease agreement, or a written resolution from the city — all of which are required before taking over municipal land. Officials from the City of Harare, including Edgar Dzehonye and Isaiah Chawatama, stressed that these documents are essential. In short, they said Brickstone shouldn’t have been on the land in the first place.
Things got worse for Brickstone when the city revealed that a letter the company had used to back its claim — allegedly from the Ministry of Local Government — was forged. Both the ministry’s Chief Director, Mr Mushamba, and the official whose name was on the document, Mr Madzivire, denied ever signing or writing it.
That forged letter was the basis of an interim court order Brickstone secured in July 2023, which it used to begin construction. But even after the court made it clear no further building was allowed, the company continued developing the site without submitting proper building plans.
In response, Harare City Council demolished 30 illegal structures on the land. Only those protected under the temporary court order were spared.
Also read: First Harare Now Epworth: 16 500 MORE Houses Set For Demolition
Belvedere Homes Face Demolition as High Court Boots Developer
Justice Dembure has now given Brickstone seven days to leave the property. If the company fails to comply, the court has authorised the Sheriff of Zimbabwe to remove them and anyone else claiming rights through them.
This ruling leaves dozens of would-be homeowners in limbo. Many had bought residential stands from Brickstone, unaware that the paperwork behind the deals was fake.
Directors of the company, Lilian Chitanga and Spencer Mabheka, were arrested in September 2024 and charged with forgery and fraud. Authorities allege they used fake documents to sell over 50 stands for between US$25,000 and US$40,000 each. Investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission confirmed that all the allocation letters and lease agreements given to buyers were fraudulent.
Most of the homes built on those stands have already been torn down.
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The post More Belvedere Homes Face Demolition as High Court Boots Land Developer appeared first on iHarare News.
