Staff Reporter
Government has noted with concern, the increased number of illegal settlers on agricultural land. The Second Republic has been battling with an increasing number of illegal settlers on farms countrywide and has vowed to evict them in order to restore sanity on State land.
Today, the Minister for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka said that Government will not condone the illegal settlement and sale of State land.
“Government will not regularize those that settle themselves on State land without procedurally issued tenure documents. The full wrath of the law will be applied in such cases of illegal settlements,” he said.
The Minister further warned that those occupying State land without authority will be prosecuted.
“The nation is being advised that agricultural land is not for sale. Do not pay and do not allow anyone to charge you to access agricultural land. Report any such activities to the nearest law enforcement agencies or to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development.
“Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, in their capacity as Chairpersons of Provincial Land Committees, should activate the necessary structures to deter and evict any illegal settlers”, said the Minister.
Minister Masuka also noted that those who took land applications should be guided by Government procedures and processes.
“Land applicants who are recommended for land allocation should wait to get tenure documents before occupying recommended pieces of land.
“It is a criminal offence, in terms of the Zimbabwe Land Commission Act (Chapter 20;29) and the Gazzeted Lands (Consequential Provisions) Act (Chapter 20;28), to occupy State land without lawful authority in the form of a Permit, an Offer Letter or a lease”, noted the Government.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Lands Commission (ZLC) successfully completed its land audit exercise, coming up with a Land Information Management System (LIMS), which will tackle issues such as multiple farm ownerships and double allocations. President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently received the final report, which audited 254 538 farms countrywide.
