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Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) have vowed to clamp down on land barons, particularly traditional leaders, who continue to illegally allocate State land.
This commitment was made at an anti-corruption indaba hosted by Transparency International Zimbabwe in partnership with ZACC, NPA, the police and other key stakeholders.
In a speech read on his behalf by Commissioner Mabel Ndakaripa Munyuki-Hungwe, ZACC chair Mr Michael Reza said village heads were among the chief culprits and warned of stiff penalties.
“I want to stress that we cannot afford to let corruption go unchecked in land allocation.
“We believe that managing these resources based on our heritage is sacrosanct.
“We must always remember that these resources belong not to us or the past generation, but to future generations, hence the need for sustainable management, especially in light of the devastating effects of climate change.”
The looming crackdown comes in response to a surge in unscrupulous village heads illegally allocating or selling pieces of State land, especially in peri-urban areas across the country.
Mr Reza said after noting widespread corruption in land allocation, ZACC had launched anti-corruption awareness programmes to curb the scourge.
“The commission has engaged citizens in Masvingo, Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland South provinces, equipping them with information to detect, avoid and report corruption in their localities.
“The illegal parcelling of wetlands, destruction of river banks and mountains, and other ecologically sensitive zones remains a concern.
“Uncontrolled parcelling of sensitive environmental areas has severe consequences for the ecosystem and economy.”
Scores of village heads have already been arrested and have appeared before the courts for illegally parcelling State land.
In a speech read on her behalf by the acting Deputy Prosecutor-General Mr Justin Uladi, Prosecutor General Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo acknowledged receiving cases involving land barons from investigating authorities.
“These cases involve double allocation of stands, unlawful land parcelling, and involve senior rural district council and urban council officers.
“We are pleased that the public is reporting these cases. We encourage the public to desist from paying for land.
“Land allocation follows proper procedures through rural district councils or urban councils, and applications must be filed accordingly.
“Bribing traditional leaders or council workers for land is prohibited. Anyone who pays or receives a bribe will be prosecuted, and the bribe will be forfeited to the State.”
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