This comes at a time when the government is rolling out the
“No to Land Barons and Illegal Settlements on Land” operation with an estimated
13 000 villagers facing eviction in Masvingo province.
According to reports, the government is allegedly set to
make more than US$13 million through US$100 fines on poor citizens who are
being evicted from State land.
In December last year, the government vowed to prosecute
people found occupying State land without authority from the responsible
ministry, amid concern over an increase in illegal settlements on agricultural
land across the country.
The on-going exercise, however, has riled civic society
organisations such as Women and Land which said the evictions were illegal and
unacceptable.
The organisation argued that section 74 of the Constitution
provides that no person may be evicted from their home without an order of
court made after considering all relevant circumstances.
In a lengthy write-up on his X handle, Kasukuwere said a
holistic review of the Communal Lands Act was imperative to arrest the chaos
being witnessed in the country.
“Unplanned settlements have cropped up everywhere and
because of corruption the situation is truly out of control,” he said.
Kasukuwere said the State should move swiftly to align the
land authorities, from the village head, chief, land officers, councillors and the ministries of Lands and
Local Government.
“There are a raft of Acts that regulate the land and more
often that not, they don’t speak to each other hence the chaos. The then
Ministry of Co-operatives, Rural District and Urban authorities all have a
responsibility to administer the land,” he said.
He said a comprehensive plan was necessary as the Local
Government minister was heavily compromised to undertake the heavy task to
preside over the demolition of homesteads and exposing vulnerable children and
elders.
“On the other hand if it’s not done, the chaos will
continue. I suggest that Cabinet urgently sets up a committee to review the
legal instruments at hand and harmonise them.
“Secondly, identify and plan how the affected families can
be assisted and resettled legally. I need not remind you of the need to give
appropriate title to citizens to avoid the chaos we are seeing,” he said.
Kasukuwere noted that the road ahead was littered with
obstacles for the ministry saying it was essential that authorities communicate
effectively for society to appreciate their intentions.
“Destroying a homestead is a difficult undertaking for any
leader. In the absence of a clearly defined process that citizens can follow
should they require land, the pain and chaos will be with us for some time to
come,” he said.
Police national spokesperson Assistant Commission Paul
Nyathi in a statement yesterday called for co-operation and provision of
information during the operation which started last month.
“The operation started in January 2024 and is progressing
well. As of February 12, 2024, a total of 3 775 suspects have been arrested
with 985 convictions being made by the courts, while 3 360 cases are pending
trial,” he said. Newsday
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