'No to illegal land allocations'

Government is concerned with the sprouting of unauthorised settlements which are attributed to illegal land deals in communal lands, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing deputy minister Joel Biggie Matiza said during the installation of Stanley Kamambo as Chief Seke in Seke.

The event was attended by Harare and Mashonaland East Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs Mirriam Chikukwa and Simbaneuta Mudarikwa respectively, Lands and Rural Resettlement deputy minister Tendai Savanhu and provincial councillor Munyaradzi Kashambe.

"President Mugabe installed Chief Seke and it is in line with continuing with the development that has been taking place in the district since Independence," deputy minister Matiza said.

"Since Independence, Seke has had tremendous development and 70 schools have been constructed.

"We understand the district has a problem of people who illegally sell land and allocate themselves farming land on wetlands. There is now shortage of farming land and grazing pastures after some people allocated themselves land under electricity pylons in the absence of Chief Seke."

Deputy minister Matiza criticised some headmen for the chaos, saying Government hoped the new chief would resolve the issue.

"The chief will also be the custodian of culture and there has been an increase in the number of women who are abused," he said. Minister Mudarikwa said Chief Seke's prime responsibility was to stop the illegal selling of land.

Chief Seke said he was elated to be installed and he will work with Government in all developmental programmes.