Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
TRADITIONAL leaders found illegally parcelling out land alongside land barons will face arrest and prosecution, while those convicted will be removed from office in terms of the Constitution and the Traditional Leaders Act, Government has warned.
The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has issued a strong warning against the continued illegal occupation, subdivision and sale of State, local authority and communal land, describing the practice as a criminal enterprise that has fuelled disorderly settlements, environmental degradation and widespread fraud.
In a statement, the ministry said the era of lawlessness in land administration was over and that Government had intensified enforcement operations nationwide to eliminate illegal land dealers and restore order.
“The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works condemns in the strongest possible terms the continued criminal occupation, subdivision and sale of land by land barons, headmen, village heads and other individuals who are undermining Government authority, the rule of law and orderly human settlements for personal gain,” reads the statement by Minister Daniel Garwe.
He said illegal land allocations had resulted in the destruction of public infrastructure, environmental damage, land disputes and the defrauding of unsuspecting home seekers.
He said Government would no longer tolerate the abuse of public land or the exploitation of citizens by criminal syndicates masquerading as legitimate land developers.
Minister Garwe said President Mnangagwa had directed that criminality, corruption and abuse of public office, including in the administration of land, must end immediately.
“This directive is being implemented without fear or favour. Government has deployed robust enforcement measures to decisively eradicate land barons and all persons facilitating illegal land transactions. No individual, regardless of status, position, influence or political affiliation, is beyond the reach of the law,” he said.
Minister Garwe announced a raft of immediate measures aimed at dismantling illegal land allocation networks.
These include the arrest and prosecution of all identified land barons, while any headman or village head found facilitating or benefiting from unlawful land sales will also face criminal charges and, upon conviction, removal from office in accordance with the Constitution and the Traditional Leaders Act.
“Multi-agency enforcement teams comprising law enforcement agencies, local authorities and the Chiefs Council of Zimbabwe would conduct coordinated operations to identify, investigate and dismantle criminal syndicates involved in illegal land allocations and settlements,” said Minister Garwe.
While reaffirming the constitutional role of traditional leaders as custodians of communal land, the Minister warned that those who abuse that responsibility would face the full force of the law.
