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The Herald, 3 October, 1980
PEOPLE in the rural areas should not take over vacant land without authority and traditional chiefs must advise their people against such arbitrary acquisition, the Prime Minister, Mr Mugabe, said at Seke yesterday.
Addressing a meeting of about 200 chiefs from the Midlands, Mashonaland and Manicaland, Mr Mugabe said there must be an orderly distribution of land.
He told the chiefs that priority in the Government land distribution programme was being given to areas where the people suffered the greatest displacement and hardships during the war.
He said as the Government progressively acquired land from the European commercial sector the less affected areas would get their share.
“But where the problem of land shortage has always existed, I ask you to appeal to the people in your areas to exercise patience in their quest for land. Nor should they, in an unauthorised way, start occupying vacant land within their reach.”
He told the chiefs of his decision to order the deployment of units of the national army and police to combat dissidents in various parts of the country.
He said he was aware some of the areas of the chiefs present at the meeting were affected by these “senseless and ill-conceived acts of lawlessness and indiscipline. We cannot allow a situation to continue to develop where political malcontents are acting to bring about chaos with the hope of using that chaos to achieve a political advantage. We are going to be firm with all law-breakers whatever their race, tribe or political affiliation. Crime is crime and must be harshly punished,” said Mr Mugabe.
He urged the chiefs to cooperate with the forces of law and order.
“We must act together in stamping out hooliganism and the criminal propensities that are showing themselves.”
Zimbabwe needed peace for its reconstruction and development schemes to succeed, to attract investment and to consolidate its freedom and independence.
“We need peace because the war is over. Peace is the quest of the whole international community.”
The forthcoming local government elections must be held in a context of absolute peace and quiet without any intimidation from any source, he said.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
People in the rural areas should not take over vacant land without authority and traditional chiefs must advise their people against such arbitrary acquisition.
Illegal occupation can disrupt agricultural activities and local economies, as it undermines established systems of land tenure.
According to the Government, acquisition of land must be conducted through proper legal channels. This means that individuals or groups wishing to take over vacant land must seek permission from relevant authorities, which may include Government agencies responsible for land management or local councils.
Government has always warned that the unauthorised occupation of land can lead to legal repercussions, including eviction and penalties.
It is crucial for traditional leaders to guide their people against arbitrary acquisition of land without following due process. This guidance helps maintain social order and ensures that community members do not engage in illegal activities that could lead to disputes or conflicts.
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