Harare, (New Ziana) – The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, has urged land seekers to approach the relevant authorities with the constitutional mandate to allocate land, warning that those who engage with land barons risk losing money and facing prosecution.
Addressing journalists in Harare on Monday, Garwe said many prospective homeowners continue to buy stands from informal dealers despite repeated Government warnings. He noted that such transactions often involve land in undesignated areas, including wetlands and plots reserved for social amenities.
“Despite our calls for people to do the right thing when seeking residential stands, many are still engaging land barons and purchasing stands in undesignated areas such as wetlands or on land reserved for social amenities. Land seekers who opt for such transactions risk losing their hard-earned money, while those who illegally parcel out State land risk being prosecuted and sent to jail,” Garwe said.
He added that illegal land sales were fuelling the growth of chaotic settlements, particularly in urban areas. He revealed that some traditional leaders had been implicated in selling land to illegal settlers, a practice he said must stop immediately.
“Zimbabweans in all parts of the country should desist from engaging in illegal land transactions, as this is leading to the mushrooming of chaotic settlements, mostly in urban areas. Of late, we have been made aware of headmen who are selling land to illegal settlers, and that should stop forthwith. All land sales must be properly documented by relevant authorities,” he said.
In a related development, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Obert Jiri, reinforced the Government’s position that communal land is not for sale.
“There are land barons who are bent on fleecing land seekers, and I would like to warn them and other sub-dealers that they will always be brought to book. Communal land is not for sale. Purchasing communal land for any price is illegal. The land belongs to the President and cannot be titled,” Jiri said.
He stressed that those who enter into such deals will lose their investment, as no individual, traditional leader, or middleman has the authority to subdivide or sell agricultural land.
Jiri clarified that only two ministries are legally empowered to allocate land: the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development for agricultural land, and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for urban and residential land.
New Ziana
