ZANU PF Intervention Halts Pamatombo Evictions as Residents Clash with Council

Harare – Tensions are rising in western Harare after residents and small-scale granite workers raised alarm over a planned relocation from the long-established “Pamatombo” site, in Rugare, at the corner of Douglas Road and Lytton Road. The site, widely known across suburbs such as Mufakose, Kambuzuma, and Warren Park, has for years been a hub for tombstone production, supplying cemeteries across the capital.

According to the Rugare Granite Association, more than 95 granite businesses operate at the site and indirectly benefit nearly 800 dependents. Association member and Zanu-Pf PC Rugare Bhamu said the proposed eviction threatens a critical informal industry that has grown organically over decades.

“We have over 95 companies here, and nearly 800 people depend on this granite work. Are we now to lose our workspace so one company can park trucks?” he said during a heated stakeholder meeting.

The industry has become comparable to other iconic informal markets such as Mbare Musika, Mupedzanhamo, and Glenview Home Industries.

Residents say the Harare City Council previously earmarked the land for future development, but they were granted temporary use while awaiting implementation. The association claims it formalised this arrangement through written communication and has been paying fees to council offices in Kambuzuma for continued use of the space.

However, concerns escalated after reports that the land is now set to be allocated to a private transport operator identified by residents as Boom Transport or Trade King for use as a truck parking yard at a reported rate of US$1 per day. Residents allege they were not formally notified of the change.

Community members also raised technical concerns, claiming the same transporter had previously been denied permission to use the site due to underground infrastructure, including pipes that could be damaged by heavy truck vibrations.

“There are serious risks here, yet suddenly the same applicant is being approved,” one resident said.

A charged meeting involving Ward 13 councillor Suka, council officials, and stakeholders nearly resulted in the eviction of granite workers earlier this week. However, intervention by Andrew Makahamadze, ZANU-PF District Coordinating Committee (DCC) Zone 6 Secretary for Business and Economic Development, temporarily halted the move. Makahamadze questioned the urgency of the eviction, citing existing paperwork submitted by the association to regularise operations. His intervention prevented immediate displacement, allowing operations to continue for now.

The situation has sparked criticism of local leadership, with residents questioning why political intervention was necessary when elected officials were present. Some residents expressed concern over the role of Councillor Suka, accusing her of siding with council officials against the very community that elected her.

“Why would our own councillor be part of a team coming to evict us?” one worker asked.

Residents are now urging the council to find alternative land for truck parking rather than displacing an established economic hub. Urban planning experts say such conflicts highlight the need for inclusive decision-making that balances formal development with informal sector livelihoods.

“This is not just about land it’s about livelihoods, heritage, and urban economic survival,” said a Harare-based analyst.

Southerton Business Times tried to reach the Ward 13 councillor, but she was out of town and could not respond in time for publication.

Pamatombo Harare eviction