Zacc acts against corrupt land barons

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has sprung into action in response to concerns that corrupt land barons were illegally parcelling out communal and urban land in exchange for profit.

The invasion of communal farming land spaces by land barons is said to be straining livestock production as some illegally settled persons are reportedly building homes in areas reserved for pastures.

While the Government has taken a tough stance against illegal land occupation resulting in the arrests of dozens of offenders countrywide, communities have called for the arrest of the land barons who are behind the chaos.

The concerns have prompted Zacc to join hands with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to roll out public awareness campaigns in targeted areas.

Yesterday the awareness teams were in Umzingwane District under Chief Sigola where communities were sensitised about the legal processes of acquiring land and the consequences of engaging in corrupt land deals.

Speaking at the meeting, Zacc principal public education officer, Mr Rubben Mutsvairo said the nationwide awareness campaign was necessitated by the increase in reports concerning illegal parcelling out of the land in communal areas.

He said the issue has resulted in overcrowding where grazing and farm land is now depleted as people now indiscriminately build homes all over.

“As Zacc we have a mandate to promote honesty, financial discipline, and transparency in the public and private sector and we receive complaints from the public and we take action regarding such complaints,” said Mr Mutsvairo.

“This is the reason why we are here, there are complaints that are coming to our offices, especially to do with land barons and illegal parceling of land. The President has given a decree on issues to do with land barons and a deadline has been given to all local authorities to submit master plans, which is going to be used as a legal document,” he added.

“We have a vision as a country to have a citizenry and institutions that uphold integrity, good governance and a corrupt-free Zimbabwe by 2030. Yesterday we were in Beitbridge, today we are in Chief Sigola area and tomorrow we will be in Matobo District and lastly, we will be in Plumtree.”

Mr Mutsvairo said the other team was deployed to Mashonaland Central and both delegations were engaging with councillors, chiefs, and headmen to talk about the effects of illegal parcelling out of the land.

Recently, Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works stressed the need for an efficient and transparent system to ensure that urban state land plays a role in facilitating sustainable and functional developments.

“The ministry, therefore, wishes to announce the imposition, with immediate effect, of a moratorium on the allocation of urban state land until further notice,” said the ministry in a statement.

Commenting on the intervention, Headman Elmon Dlodlo from the Sigola area said issues concerning settlements in their area were serious as people were building homes in wetlands, rivers and grazing land.

“People are building homes without us knowing the process and who is the owner. We have a lot of these in this community and Zacc is here, which will make it difficult for those who are doing such illegal practices.

“As community leaders, we can’t stand with such people who have never consulted when doing their things as they do all this without our knowledge,” said Headman Dlodlo.