Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT has launched a crackdown on illegal land sales in Matabeleland North, warning that individuals involved in the unlawful allocation and sale of communal and resettlement land face arrest as authorities move to protect communities from fraud and restore order in land administration.
Addressing the media at his Mhlahlandlela Government Complex offices in Bulawayo yesterday, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland North, Richard Moyo, said law enforcement agencies had been directed to act decisively against perpetrators regardless of their status in society.
Minister Moyo was flanked by members of the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) and the Permanent Secretary in his office, Ms Sithandiwe Ncube.
The warning follows reports from District Development Coordinators, traditional leaders and District Lands Committees indicating a surge in illegal land sales, commonly known as “sobhuku deals”, in several parts of the province.
Minister Moyo said some individuals are illegally selling communal land, resettlement land, wetlands, riverbanks and land reserved for public amenities such as schools, clinics and roads.
He said the practice was not only undermining Government’s land administration systems but was also exposing unsuspecting home seekers to financial losses while threatening orderly development and environmental conservation.
“These actions are illegal, harmful to communities and a threat to the environment and orderly development. Many have bought land in good faith, but without approval from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the relevant Rural District Council, such transactions have no legal standing,” said Minister Moyo.
He said the law clearly stipulates that communal and resettlement land cannot be privately sold by traditional leaders or individuals, while construction on wetlands, riverbanks and other environmentally protected areas remains prohibited.
Minister Moyo said the Government would immediately intensify efforts to stop all illegal land sales, verify existing allocations through the appropriate authorities and relocate families settled in dangerous or prohibited areas where necessary.
He said those behind the illegal activities would be investigated and prosecuted.
“We urge all residents to stop paying money to anyone claiming to sell land without official approval and to report suspicious transactions to their District Development Coordinator, Rural District Council or the Ministry of Lands,” he said.
Moyo warned that any sabhuku, headman or individual who continues allocating land without legal authority would face arrest, while traditional leaders found abusing their positions would be disciplined in terms of the Traditional Leaders Act.
He said traditional leaders play a critical role in safeguarding communal land and preserving order in rural communities, adding that Government expected them to discharge their responsibilities within the confines of the law.
Minister Moyo appealed to prospective land buyers to exercise caution and verify all land allocations through the relevant Government offices before making any payments.
“Any offer presented as quick, secret and lacking official documentation should be regarded as unlawful,” he said.
The minister noted that many victims of illegal land sales are lured by promises of cheap residential stands only to discover later that the land was never legally available for allocation.
He said such unlawful settlements often emerge in environmentally sensitive areas and on land reserved for public infrastructure, creating challenges for local authorities and exposing residents to possible eviction.
Minister Moyo also called upon traditional leaders to safeguard communal land and direct land seekers to the appropriate Government offices for lawful processing.
He further challenged councils, law enforcement agencies and ministry officials to execute their duties with integrity and firmness to curb the growing problem.
The minister said Government remained committed to ensuring that citizens have access to lawful and safe housing opportunities while maintaining proper land-use planning and environmental protection standards.
“Matabeleland North must be developed in an orderly, legal and sustainable manner for the benefit of present and future generations,” said Minister Moyo.
Authorities have said the crackdown will be implemented across the province as part of broader efforts to curb land fraud, protect public land and ensure that development takes place in accordance with established laws and regulations.
