Harare Correspondent
HARARE – The Harare City Council has disclosed that nearly one-third of buildings in the city’s Central Business District (CBD) are in a state of significant disrepair, exacerbating a mass exodus of businesses to suburban areas.
The alarming statistic was revealed during a recent workshop where Harare Metropolitan Province local authorities presented draft master plan updates to Harare Provincial Minister Charles Tavengwa.
Principal Consultant for the Harare Master Plan project, Mr. Trymore Muderere, presented stark findings from the Real Estate and Land Marketing draft.
“There is a mass exodus of businesses from the central business district, with major companies relocating to suburban areas due to high crime, poor parking, and deteriorating services,” Muderere stated.
He further detailed the CBD’s decline:
“We are also seeing a high office vacancy rate, with 60 percent of office space remaining empty. Furthermore, 31 percent of CBD buildings are in poor condition.”
This revelation follows action taken last year when the city council identified over 500 buildings—including 14 multi-story structures—as unsafe for occupation and posing potential dangers to people and adjacent properties.
Despite these condemnations, the council has acknowledged failing to take enforcement action against the non-compliant property owners.
The combination of deteriorating infrastructure, high vacancy rates, and the flight of businesses paints a concerning picture of the heart of Zimbabwe’s capital city, highlighting urgent challenges for urban renewal and economic revitalization efforts.
Zim GBC News2025