Encroachment of the Harare Central Business District Boundary into Bordering Suburban Areas: Implications for Spatial Policy

The decline of the city centre and a surge in demand for affordable commercial space has led to the expansion of the city centre of Harare into surrounding residential areas. However, as the market forces of supply and demand drove the expansion, no comprehensive study or planning has been conducted to ensure harmonious co-existence of commercial and residential land uses. This chapter explores the growth of Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) and its integration into the surrounding residential areas. Following the New Urban Agenda principles, the chapter examines the impact of the CBD expansion into residential areas on Harare’s inner city land use inclusiveness. Primary and secondary data was collected through semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and spatial mapping using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The chapter reveals a form of gentrification through upzoning, a process where high-value land uses (such as commercial) replace low-value land uses (such as residential). The phenomenon has led to increasing decay of the city centre and dilapidation of infrastructure. The sustainability of spatial policy in Harare is in jeopardy as the CBD boundary continues to expand.