Further, Government says it is concerned over attempts to
tarnish its image by those “bent on inciting hatred and despondency”, through
circulating videos of burning houses that are from as far back as 2018.
This was revealed in a joint statement released last night
by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development
Dr Anxious Masuka, Local Government and Public Works Minister Winston Chitando,
Acting Minister for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Ziyambi Ziyambi and
National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe.
The ministers said the Government successfully implemented
the Land Reform Programme from 2000, culminating in the settling of thousands
of households on A1 and A2 farms.
The farmers are contributing to the success of the
agro-policy and food self-sufficiency of the country, with several productivity
records for maize, tobacco and wheat shattered, especially since the coming of
the Second Republic in November 2017.
In the statement, the ministers said in terms of the Land
Commission Act and the gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act, it is
illegal to occupy rural State land without lawful authority in the form of an
offer letter, permit or a lease.
They added that it is also illegal for any person who is
not authorised by central or local government to sell, lease or offer a lease
with an option to purchase State land or council land.
“Government’s position has been consistently clear that
there has to be an orderly and legal settlement on the land,” reads the
statement. “However, it has been noted with concern that there are people who
are settling themselves illegally on urban land as well as rural agricultural
State land and others who are illegally selling the same.”
Realising the prevalence of cases where people were
illegally resettling themselves on State or council land, Minister Masuka
issued statements on November 28 last year and January 3 this year, advising
the nation that State land was not for sale and applicants should follow
correct procedures to be allocated land.
Minister Masuka’s statement was then followed by statements
from various Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.
On Tuesday this week, Minister Chitando issued another
statement buttressing the same, with reference to urban land and specifically
Ward 16 of Harare City, which covers Mabelreign suburb.
In that statement, Minister Chitando said it was illegal to
occupy greenways or parcel out State or council land without authority, for
whatever purpose.
Police and the Ministry of Agriculture then instituted a
joint operation on January 10 to deal with land barons and irregular
settlements.
So far, the operation has led to the arrest of over 3 700
land barons while several illegal settlers were interviewed by the police to
facilitate investigations.
In last night’s statement, Government insisted the
operation was not intended “to punish or remove citizens from their homesteads
as is being depicted but to restore order in the allocation and management of
State land”.
“We have noted with concern the attempts to tarnish the
Government by those bent on inciting hatred and despondency,” reads the
statement in part.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the video circulating of
burning houses is from an incident in 2018 and is not related to the current
operation. This incident was investigated and corrective action taken.
“Apart from this and on similar lines, we are aware of
other videos circulating on social media which, again, are intentionally
calculated to discredit the current operation to restore order in the
allocation and management of State land. Some of the videos are even from
beyond the borders of Zimbabwe.
“Government is committed to ensuring that all its citizens
are settled in an orderly manner on allocated land. In that regard, members of
the public are advised to report any suspected cases of land barons and illegal
settlements to ZRP hotline telephone numbers 0242 771874 and WhatsApp 0712 800
197 or the nearest Lands Office.” Herald
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