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Village heads selling State Land face arrest
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Village heads or traditional leaders found selling or facilitating the sale of State land will be classified as land barons and face arrest, a Cabinet Minister has warned. The Government has urged anyone with concrete evidence to come forward to aid law enforcement efforts.
The announcement follows revelations that some village heads, particularly in peri-urban areas such as Domboshawa, Seke, Nyabira, Rusape, and Chesa Farm, have settled over 10,000 people through an illicit syndicate. Reports indicate that these village heads collaborate with ordinary villagers to sell land, forging documents and securing authentication from higher traditional authorities, including chiefs, who allegedly also benefit from the transactions.
Standing in for Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly last week, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, reinforced the Government's position.
"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," said Prof Murwira.
Prof Murwira was responding to concerns raised by the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Albert Nyakuedzwa, who questioned the Government's policy on village heads illegally settling people in peri-urban areas.
A supplementary question from another Member of Parliament alleged that some Government workers responsible for overseeing traditional leadership were aware of the illegal settlements but failed to prevent them. In response, Prof Murwira classified such inaction as corruption.
"The issue that he is raising is that there are people that 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. Those who commit corruption must be prosecuted," he said.
Prof Murwira further emphasized that individuals who knowingly allow illegal land sales without reporting them are complicit in corruption and will face legal consequences.
National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Zhemu Soda reaffirmed that traditional leaders have no authority to allocate State land.
"The Constitution says that on the availability of resources, Government is supposed to do that work. If resources are limited, there may be slow progress in providing accommodation and stands, but this does not justify illegal land sales," he explained.
Minister Soda also issued a stern warning to those illegally distributing State land, stressing that severe legal repercussions await them.
"Land barons will not be asked to make any contribution except that they will be directed to go to prisons," he declared.
The Government has reiterated its commitment to prosecuting land barons and eradicating corruption in land distribution, urging the public to report any illegal land sales to the authorities.
The announcement follows revelations that some village heads, particularly in peri-urban areas such as Domboshawa, Seke, Nyabira, Rusape, and Chesa Farm, have settled over 10,000 people through an illicit syndicate. Reports indicate that these village heads collaborate with ordinary villagers to sell land, forging documents and securing authentication from higher traditional authorities, including chiefs, who allegedly also benefit from the transactions.
Standing in for Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly last week, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, reinforced the Government's position.
"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," said Prof Murwira.
Prof Murwira was responding to concerns raised by the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Albert Nyakuedzwa, who questioned the Government's policy on village heads illegally settling people in peri-urban areas.
A supplementary question from another Member of Parliament alleged that some Government workers responsible for overseeing traditional leadership were aware of the illegal settlements but failed to prevent them. In response, Prof Murwira classified such inaction as corruption.
Prof Murwira further emphasized that individuals who knowingly allow illegal land sales without reporting them are complicit in corruption and will face legal consequences.
National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Zhemu Soda reaffirmed that traditional leaders have no authority to allocate State land.
"The Constitution says that on the availability of resources, Government is supposed to do that work. If resources are limited, there may be slow progress in providing accommodation and stands, but this does not justify illegal land sales," he explained.
Minister Soda also issued a stern warning to those illegally distributing State land, stressing that severe legal repercussions await them.
"Land barons will not be asked to make any contribution except that they will be directed to go to prisons," he declared.
The Government has reiterated its commitment to prosecuting land barons and eradicating corruption in land distribution, urging the public to report any illegal land sales to the authorities.
Source - The Herald
