Govt cracks down on illegal land sales in Matebeleland North

The government has launched a crackdown on illegal land sales in Matebeleland North, warning that individuals involved in the unlawful allocation and sale of communal and resettlement land face arrest as authorities intensify efforts to protect communities from fraud and restore order to land administration.

Addressing journalists at the Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in Bulawayo on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matebeleland North, Richard Moyo, said law enforcement agencies had been instructed to take decisive action against those behind illegal land transactions, regardless of their status.

Moyo was accompanied by members of the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) and the Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Sithandiwe Ncube.

The minister said the move follows reports from District Development Coordinators, traditional leaders and District Lands Committees indicating a surge in illegal land sales, commonly referred to as "sobhuku deals", in several parts of the province.

According to Moyo, some individuals are unlawfully selling communal land, resettlement land, wetlands, riverbanks and land reserved for public amenities such as schools, clinics and roads.

He said the practice undermines the government's land administration system, exposes unsuspecting home seekers to financial losses and threatens orderly development and environmental conservation.

"These actions are illegal, harmful to communities and a threat to the environment and orderly development. Many have bought land in good faith, but without approval from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the relevant Rural District Council, such transactions have no legal standing," Moyo said.

He emphasised that Zimbabwe's laws prohibit the private sale of communal and resettlement land by traditional leaders or individuals and also forbid construction on wetlands, riverbanks and other environmentally protected areas.

Moyo said the government would immediately intensify efforts to halt all illegal land sales, verify existing land allocations through the appropriate authorities and, where necessary, relocate families who have settled in prohibited or hazardous areas.

He warned that those responsible for illegal land transactions would be investigated and prosecuted.

"We urge all residents to stop paying money to anyone claiming to sell land without official approval and to report suspicious transactions to their District Development Coordinator, Rural District Council or the Ministry of Lands," he said.

The minister further warned that any village head, headman or individual allocating land without legal authority would face arrest, while traditional leaders found abusing their positions would be disciplined in terms of the Traditional Leaders Act.

He said traditional leaders have a crucial responsibility to safeguard communal land and maintain order within rural communities and should carry out their duties within the confines of the law.

Moyo urged prospective land buyers to verify all land offers with the relevant government offices before making any payments.

"Any offer presented as quick, secret and lacking official documentation should be regarded as unlawful," he said.

He noted that many victims are enticed by offers of cheap residential stands, only to discover later that the land was never legally available for allocation.

According to the minister, many illegal settlements have emerged on environmentally sensitive land and on sites reserved for public infrastructure, creating planning challenges for local authorities and exposing residents to possible eviction.

Moyo also called on traditional leaders to direct land seekers to the appropriate government offices for lawful allocation procedures and urged councils, law enforcement agencies and ministry officials to carry out their responsibilities with integrity and firmness.

He said the government remained committed to ensuring that citizens have access to lawful and safe housing opportunities while preserving proper land-use planning and environmental protection.

"Matebeleland North must be developed in an orderly, legal and sustainable manner for the benefit of present and future generations," Moyo said.

Authorities said the crackdown will be implemented across the province as part of broader efforts to combat land fraud, safeguard public land and ensure that development takes place in accordance with established laws and planning regulations.