By Derick Tsimba

In a move that will stop illegal land sales, Government has moved in to stop land barons from parcelling out open land in the City of Harare.

Harare City Council in its public notice on land has said that Government land is only sold by Government and nobody else.

“Government or Council land is only sold by Government or Council and nobody else; the public should report all corrupt Harare City Council officials who encourage land invasions by assisting people to identify land to the Town Clerk.

“The public from now onwards should be aware that individuals or groupings such as housing cooperatives and pay schemes claiming to have identified or discovered open land in the City shall no longer be entertained,” said Harare City Council.

Government through the Harare City Council has strongly condemned corrupt land dealings.

“Government is aware of all its land, making any unofficial claims of land discovery is unrealistic and corrupt. This is euphemism for corruption and panacea for disaster. Any such attempts to circumvent the law will be turned down.

“Government land is only sold by Government and nobody else, the public is therefore advised to shun from any land dealings that are not initiated by the Government. People should not buy land from anyone who does not have proof of ownership in the form of a title deed,” Harare City Council has said.