Resurgence in land barons’ activities

Talent Gore

THE GOVERNMENT has established a provincial taskforce to remove illegal land invaders, and arrest land barons, who are responsible for selling land illegally.

There has been rampant illegal selling of land in Harare and this has led to many land barons being arrested.

In Chitungwiza, the wetlands opposite Chikwanha Shopping Centre, which has been left untouched for years, has now seen some structures being erected.

Harare Province Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Tafadzwa Muguti, said there has been a resurgence of land invasions by land barons in Harare.

“There has been a resurgence of land invasions by land barons in Harare Metropolitan Province with land invasions taking place in most of our wetlands and land earmarked for development projects,” he said.

“Recently, land barons invaded the Monavale Vlei, which is one of the world’s acclaimed Ramsar sites.

“Whilst in Mbare, land earmarked for the Mbare Urban Renewal Development Project (housing complexes and commercial buildings) was invaded by space barons who took advantage of the delay in the approval of building permits by the City of Harare,” he said.

Muguti said the invasions were largely influenced by false narratives.

“The invasions across the province are largely influenced by the false belief that land invaders will be regularised by the Government under the ongoing land regularisation programme,” he said.

“The Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution has, therefore, established a Provincial Task Force comprising of the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the Zimbabwe Republic Police, City of Harare, Chitungwiza Municipality, Ruwa Local Board and Epworth Local Board to address the menace of land barons.

“The taskforce shall remove all illegal land invaders, demolish any illegal structures and arrest all land invaders, as well as the land barons, responsible for selling land illegally. It is important to note that Harare Metropolitan Province has a Zero Tolerance Policy on Corruption and Lawlessness.”