Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Amon Murwira has warned that village heads caught selling or helping others sell state land will be treated as land barons and face arrest.
Murwira encouraged anyone with proof of illegal land deals to report them.
Reports suggest that village heads, especially in areas like Domboshava, Seke, Nyabira, Rusape, and Chesa Farm, have illegally settled over 10,000 people.
The scheme involves villagers selling land and sharing the profits with the village head. The village head helps new settlers by forging documents and getting them approved by the chief, who is also said to receive a share of the money.
Speaking in the National Assembly, Murwira, who was standing in for Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe, said village heads involved in these activities are considered land barons. He said (via <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/village-heads-warned-against-selling-state-land/">The Herald</a>):
<blockquote>
If there are village heads selling land, we call them land barons. It is illegal, with regard to law; they are supposed to be arrested. That is Government policy or that is the law. If there is anyone with concrete evidence like what the Honourable Member alluded to, these people must be arrested, that is Government policy.
</blockquote>
Murwira was responding to Albert Nyakuedzwa, the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government, who asked about the government’s stance on village heads selling land in peri-urban areas, claiming they had settled over 10,000 people.
Another Member of Parliament raised a concern, alleging that some government workers responsible for overseeing land issues were aware of these illegal settlements but did nothing to stop them.
Murwira replied that if government workers knowingly allowed such illegal activities to happen, it should be considered corruption. He said:
<blockquote>
The issue that he is raising is that there are people who work for the Government and local authorities who may know what is happening and all that.
That is what we call corruption, and that is why we have laws that deal with corruption, which must prosecute those people who commit corruption. The question again is, is there such a law? The law is there.
Firstly, they are not supposed to sell land illegally. If they do that, they will be prosecuted. Secondly, people who see people selling land illegally and just keep quiet are also involved in corruption; they will also be arrested. Corruption is illegal; selling land is illegal.
</blockquote>
National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Zhemu Soda said traditional leaders do not have the right to sell state land. He warned that those who are selling land could face long prison sentences.

Pindula News

Village heads caught selling state land will be treated as land barons and face arrest. Reports say over 10,000 people have been illegally settled by village heads in some areas. Villagers sell land and share profits with the village head, who forges documents to help new settlers. Foreign Affairs Minister Amon Murwira warned village heads involved in illegal land deals will be arrested. Government workers who allow illegal settlements may also face corruption charges. Traditional leaders do not have the right to sell state land and those doing so could go to prison.

Village Heads Caught Selling State Land To Be Treated As 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:
<blockquote>
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>

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