After the farms, Mugabe set to grab his neighbour’s houses

By Lance Guma
20 January 2006

Government has told homeowners near Robert Mugabe’s US$10 million retirement mansion in Harare’s plush suburb of Borrowdale that it is going to confiscate their houses. In written warnings delivered to 15 property owners on Wednesday, the valuation department of the Local government ministry told them their homes fell under a designated security area.

The Ministry says it will be contacting them with a view to inspecting the properties for valuation purposes. UK Telegraph journalist Peta Thornycroft said both black and white residents of the area were going to be affected. It is likely that more homeowners in the area will receive similar letters as the criteria is whether you have a view of Mugabe’s palace. Unfortunately the palace is completely surrounded by private residences.

Thornycroft said it was particularly unfair for Mugabe to move into an area that already had other houses there, build his mansion, and then have government officials declaring the area a designated security zone. She says there is also no clarity on whether Mugabe’s property is government or privately owned. If the property is a retirement home as is widely believed why was it getting a status worthy of state protection?

The government letters have had the effect of slashing the value of properties in the area, leaving government to offer whatever money they want. Thornycroft added that many of the properties are still under construction or nearing completion and the government kept quite while they were being built. Those affected are currently seeking legal advice on what action, if any, they can take to protect their investments.