The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has initiated an investigation into the illegal distribution of land in Matabeleland North Province by individuals connected to the ZANU PF party, in collaboration with traditional leaders.
This investigation follows the arrest of 155 land barons and illegal settlers in the Umguza, Bubi, Lupane, and Hwange districts in February 2024.
The investigation comes amidst growing concerns for villagers in the region, particularly those residing in resettlement areas, who face potential eviction.
Dethroned Ntabazinduna Chief Felix Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni has issued repeated threats to pursue legal action against those implicated in the illegal land allocations.
Originally set to commence last Tuesday, the investigation was postponed and is now expected to proceed this week.
ZACC communications manager Simiso Mlevu confirmed these developments to the <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200032621/zacc-goes-after-land-barons">Southern Eye</a> last Tuesday. Said Mlevu:
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The programme has been postponed to next week, we will share the exact dates.
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The campaign targets illegal land deals in Hwange, Lupane, Bubi, and Umguza. Last week, ZACC’s Mqele Sibanda advised district coordinators about the upcoming probe. Sibanda wrote:
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It is crucial that you mobilise all leadership and representatives from government departments such as the Lands and Local Government ministries, EMA (Environmental Management Agency), Police, local authorities, local NGOs, councillors, chiefs, all headmen, and all villagers for the events.
The purpose of the campaign is to educate the citizens on what corruption is, discourage people from settling in illegal areas and enlist the effects of corruption in the land sector.
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Earlier this year, scores of people were arrested nationwide allegedly for illegally settling on gazetted land without lawful authority.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has been at the forefront in defending the rights of the villagers.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is investigating people in ZANU PF party and traditional leaders for giving out land illegally in Matabeleland North Province. They arrested 155 land barons and illegal settlers in some districts in February. Villagers may face eviction. Former chief Ndiweni wants legal action. The investigation was postponed but will start soon. ZACC wants to educate people about corruption in land deals. Many others were arrested for illegal land settlement. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights are helping villagers.

ZACC Targets Rural Land Barons

The Government has warned chiefs, headmen and village heads that those who are selling State land to desperate land seekers face dismissal and prosecution.
Four village heads from Dema in Mashonaland East Province have since been convicted after appearing in court for selling stands in undesignated places.
The parcelling out and selling of State land has become rampant, not only in Dema but countrywide, especially close to growth points and peri-urban areas.
The Director of Communication and Advocacy in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Gabriel Masvora told The Sunday News that the Government is conducting capacity-building workshops within the country’s eight rural provinces to conscientise traditional leaders on their role and ensure they do not overstep their mandate.
He said the issue of land distribution in exchange for bribes was one of the major objectives of the workshops due to an unprecedented increase in “Sabhuku deals”. Said Masvora:
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The sale of State land is illegal. The duties of a village head are spelt out in Section 12 of the Traditional Leaders Act 29:17 and do not include land allocation.
The land is allocated by the rural district council concerned after the submission of names of those who want communal land to the council and a resolution is then made.
Our ministry carried out capacity-building workshops from May 2022 to April 2023 at all the eight rural provinces in every district and the meetings were attended by chiefs, headmen and village heads.
The duties of each traditional leader were explained and illegalities were spelt out. Chiefs and headmen supervise village heads, and where the rampant sale of land occurs, they are empowered by the law to recommend dismissal.
We continue to engage the Council of Chiefs which is an assembly of elected traditional leaders and the provincial assembly chairpersons to continue to raise awareness of the illegality of land sales and the consequences thereof.
Several village heads have been convicted of illegal land sales in the country with the recent example of Dema village heads convicted on 8 January 2024.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs president Chief Mtshane Khumalo said that traditional leaders are aware that State land should not be sold and those engaging in illicit land deals should be arrested.
Early this month, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said police will arrest land barons and anyone illegally selling land in the country, regardless of their status.
ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged members of the public to verify the status of any land before being settled or made to pay for purported allocation or development.
He said the public should report criminal activities by land barons at any nearest Police Station or National Complaints Desk number on (0242) 703631 ог WhatsApp number 0712 800 197.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Village Heads Risk Dismissal, Prosecution For "Sabhuku Land Deals"

The Chief Director of Spatial Planning and Development in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Shingirayi Mushamba, has urged Zimbabweans to exercise patience and desist from acquiring land from land barons.
Speaking to reporters in Harare on Wednesday, 10 January, Mushamba said that the Government has earmarked land for housing stands in all the country’s 10 provinces. He said:
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Exercise patience, your government is in the process of ensuring that planned land is accessible and delivered in a very transparent manner in all our provinces, districts and some growth centres.
There will be sufficient land that will be identified and planned for and arrangements put in place for that land to be serviced so that you can then build your houses with the assurance that as soon as you complete the process, you have title to the land where you never again have your property being demolished.
So we are calling upon stakeholders to support this process that we have embarked upon.
</blockquote>
Last month, ZANU PF demanded that all illegal land occupations, sale or parcelling out of land and stands, as well as illegal developments, on communal, local authority and State land stop forthwith.
ZANU PF Finance Secretary Patrick Chinamasa warned land barons masquerading as ZANU PF members to stop their illegal activities.
The illegal activities of land barons have resulted in the mushrooming of shanty settlements across the country and the construction of homes on wetlands and riverbanks in urban areas.
From time to time, local authorities, especially the City of Harare, demolish structures built on land acquired illegally leaving residents, who would have spent their life savings on buying the land and building houses, in the open and at the mercy of weather elements.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Land For Housing Stands To Be Availed In All Provinces - Govt Official

ZANU PF has demanded that all illegal land occupations, sale or parcelling out of land and stands, as well as illegal developments, on communal, local authority and State land stop forthwith.
In a statement issued on Saturday, 30 December, ZANU PF acting Secretary-General Patrick Chinamasa warned land barons masquerading as ZANU PF members to stop their illegal activities. Said Chinamasa:
<blockquote>
ZANU PF is alarmed at the mushrooming and proliferation of illegal occupations and settlements on communal, local authority and State land in and around major towns and cities, rural service centres and growth points, and perpetrated by land barons, some of whom are masquerading as ZANU PF supporters and, through use of name dropping, falsely suggest that their illegal activities have the authority and blessings of ZANU PF.
Yet other land barons are using doctored and falsified documents as one of the strategies to mislead innocent stand buyers to part with their hard-earned cash.
</blockquote>
ZANU PF demands that all illegal land occupations, illegal sale or parcelling out of land or stands and illegal land developments should stop forthwith and calls upon law enforcement agencies to enforce the law and bring any perpetrators to book.
Chinamasa said no land in the country should be considered to have no administering authority. He said:
Communal land is administered under the Communal Lands Act and is vested in the President of the Republic. State land is also vested in the President and administered variously under the ministries…
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Other land fall under the jurisdiction of local authority councils. Finally, there is land which falls under private ownership.
Therefore, any occupation, settlement or development of any land requires the lawful authorisation of the relevant planning authority which has jurisdiction over such land.
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The ZANU PF Treasurer-General said illegal activities by land barons were prevalent in Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces.
He said in Manicaland, action had been taken against five party members over illegal land deals.
The illegal activities of land barons have resulted in the mushrooming of shanty settlements across the country and the construction of homes on wetlands and riverbanks in urban areas.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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