ZACC launches awareness campaign against illegal land dealings

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched a provincial awareness campaign targeting illegal land dealings in Mashonaland East Province, as part of its broader strategy to clamp down on land-related corruption across the country.

The campaign was officially launched on Thursday at Mahusekwa Business Centre in Marondera, amid a growing number of reports involving unlawful land transactions and exploitation of both communal and state land.

ZACC's Prevention and Corporate Governance chairperson, Commissioner Chido Madiwa, said the campaign comes at a critical time when the integrity of land ownership and use is under serious threat from corruption.

"The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is deeply concerned about the increasing reports of land-related corruption, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas," said Commissioner Madiwa during her address.

She warned that corrupt individuals are colluding to illegally sell communal, state, and agricultural land — a practice she described as not only criminal but deeply harmful to communities and national development.

"This behaviour deprives rightful owners and future generations of their land, disrupts orderly settlement planning, undermines food security, and fuels conflicts within communities. Tragically, these injustices often worsen the plight of the most vulnerable, including women and children," she said.

Over the past two years, ZACC has received over 250 reports of illegal land sales, with Mashonaland East emerging as one of the hotspots. Commissioner Madiwa emphasized that the Commission's approach to ending such corruption hinges on behavioural change among citizens, which she said can only be achieved through open and honest community engagement.

"Today, we are here to engage with and educate the people of Mashonaland East on the importance of preserving land and ensuring its sustainable use for future generations," she added.

The campaign is anchored on the theme "Our Land is Our Heritage", a philosophy Madiwa said reflects the deep cultural and spiritual significance of land in Zimbabwean society.

"This principle reminds us of the foundation of our indigenous knowledge, languages, and customs. It compels us to protect the land we hold in trust for future generations, ensuring they inherit not just property, but dignity, history, and autonomy."

ZACC is expected to roll out similar campaigns in other provinces as it intensifies its anti-corruption drive, with land-related fraud and abuse remaining a major concern nationwide.