Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike
Senior Reporter
ALL levels of Government must unite in the fight against land barons as they are undermining national development efforts and bringing suffering to ordinary Zimbabweans, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has said.
He made the remarks during a working lunch with members of the Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, where he unpacked the recently launched Minimum Service Delivery Standards in Local Authorities and the Urban State Land Management Policy.
These policies, unveiled by President Mnangagwa in Bulawayo on June 25, 2025 aim to restore order in urban development and improve service delivery across all 92 local authorities.
Minister Garwe said the Urban State Land Management Policy is a critical tool in addressing rapid urbanisation and curbing illegal land activities.
He said land barons have become a national menace that needs to be eradicated.
“Let’s join hands and fight the existence of land barons. They are defacing our local authorities, they are defacing our beautiful cities, they are defacing our beautiful suburbs,” Minister Garwe said.
“They are bringing what we don’t like as Zimbabweans. It is our responsibility as Members of Parliament to preach the gospel to everybody that land barons do not add value to the future of this country.
“If we are to achieve the aspirations of Vision 2030 of an upper-middle-income economy and well-planned settlements, we must do away with informal settlements created by these people who have taken huge pieces of land for personal gain.”
He added that citizens are being exploited and abused through fraudulent land deals, some of which have led to the development of unregulated settlements lacking basic services.
“The innocent Zimbabweans who voted us into office are now being abused by these people whom we are calling land barons.
“We must take this matter as seriously as we can and ensure that we preach the gospel; we bring law and order, so that our residents, the electorate that supports us to be where we are today, is protected”.
Minister Garwe said Government policies were designed not only to protect citizens, but to enhance accountability and restore the capacity of local authorities to deliver quality services.
“And let me repeat – for the benefit of all Zimbabweans, not for land barons. This is for the benefit of all Zimbabweans. I had a dream last night that we are meeting our Portfolio Committee, which comprises of people who supervise us day to day.”
Local Government Permanent Secretary Dr John Basera made a presentation on local authorities’ performance.
He also spoke about various infrastructure projects that are being undertaken around the country.
Dr Basera revealed that all local authorities now have evaluation rolls, which can afford them capacity to bill residents. He highlighted challenges that are being faced by the ministry, which include high staff turn-over especially in engineering.
