Harare – The Zimbabwean government has declared an all-out war on illegal land sales, warning that traditional leaders and land barons found complicit in the illicit parcelling out of communal and State land will face immediate arrest, prosecution, and removal from office. This stern directive, spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, signals an intensified crackdown aimed at restoring order, protecting public land, and safeguarding unsuspecting citizens from fraudulent schemes that have plagued the nation for years.
Minister Daniel Garwe of Local Government and Public Works issued a forceful statement condemning the persistent criminal occupation, subdivision, and sale of land by various individuals, including headmen and village heads. He unequivocally stated that such practices undermine government authority, the rule of law, and the establishment of orderly human settlements, all for personal gain. The Minister highlighted that these illegal allocations have led to widespread destruction of public infrastructure, severe environmental damage, escalating land disputes, and the defrauding of countless home seekers who invest their life savings into non-existent or illegally acquired plots.
“The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works condemns in the strongest possible terms the continued criminal occupation, subdivision and sale of land by land barons, headmen, village heads and other individuals who are undermining Government authority, the rule of law and orderly human settlements for personal gain,” Minister Garwe declared. He stressed that the era of lawlessness in land administration is definitively over, with the government deploying robust enforcement measures nationwide to dismantle illegal land dealing networks and restore sanity to land management.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is breathing fire over the matter, has personally directed an immediate end to criminality, corruption, and abuse of public office, particularly concerning land administration. Minister Garwe affirmed that this presidential directive is being implemented without fear or favour, ensuring that no individual, regardless of their status, position, influence, or political affiliation, is beyond the reach of the law. This resolute stance underscores the government’s commitment to tackling a problem that has deeply entrenched itself within various communities.
Multi-Agency Crackdown and Legal Consequences
To enforce this directive, Minister Garwe announced a series of immediate and decisive measures. These include the swift arrest and prosecution of all identified land barons. Crucially, any headman or village head found to be facilitating or benefiting from unlawful land sales will also face criminal charges. Upon conviction, such traditional leaders will be removed from office in strict accordance with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Traditional Leaders Act. This dual approach targets both the criminal syndicates and those in positions of trust who abuse their authority.
“Multi-agency enforcement teams comprising law enforcement agencies, local authorities and the Chiefs Council of Zimbabwe would conduct coordinated operations to identify, investigate and dismantle criminal syndicates involved in illegal land allocations and settlements,” Minister Garwe elaborated. This collaborative effort aims to create a comprehensive and inescapable net for those engaged in illicit land transactions, ensuring that investigations are thorough and prosecutions are successful.
The government’s intensified efforts are already yielding results. Between January and mid-February 2024, Operation “No to Land Barons and Illegal Settlements” led to 3,775 arrests. While many of these arrests involved individuals who had purchased land from barons, village heads, and corrupt government officials, the crackdown is now focusing on the perpetrators themselves. A notable case from March 2026 saw Stephen Shamu, a 52-year-old man, jailed by the Mutare Magistrates’ Court for swindling over US$1,100 between July and November 2025 by selling non-existent plots. Such convictions serve as a stark warning to others contemplating similar illicit activities.
The Plight of Communities: A Case Study from Matabeleland South
The impact of these illegal land sales is acutely felt in communities across Zimbabwe. In Matabeleland South, community leaders have voiced grave concerns over the growing wave of unlawful land sales in communal areas, directly accusing some traditional leaders and syndicates of parcelling out State land for personal gain. These concerns were particularly highlighted during the burial of Mr Gideon Muleya, a respected religious and senior traditional leader in Beitbridge East, who was instrumental in establishing the Beitbridge Municipality.
Addressing mourners, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South, Albert Nguluvhe, issued a stern warning that the government would descend heavily on traditional leaders and syndicates involved in these illegal transactions. He emphasised that communal land belongs to the State and is held in trust for the people, meaning no individual, including traditional leaders, has the right to sell it. “Those doing so are breaking the law and undermining development,” Minister Nguluvhe stated.
The consequences of these illicit activities are far-reaching. Residents of Makhavhane, for instance, have reported that the alleged illegal allocation of communal land is shrinking vital grazing areas, fuelling bitter disputes, and actively undermining orderly rural development. Ms Sarah Dube, a villager from Makhavhane, recounted a distressing experience: “During this past drought season I left my home to look for better grazing lands for my livestock and came back after some few months. I found new neighbours, yet I had not been informed by the traditional leaders as is the norm. When I tried to inquire from my village head, the situation nearly turned into a fight. As I speak, these new neighbours no longer talk to me and there is bad blood between us. New homes are now springing up everywhere, even on our grazing land.” This personal account vividly illustrates the human cost of unregulated land deals.
Beitbridge’s Wards 15 (Lutumba-Makhavhane), 4 (Matshiloni), and 13 (Joko resettlement) have been identified as the worst affected areas by illegal land sales involving traditional leaders. This practice has not only led to chaotic settlements and conflicts over boundaries but has also severely disrupted planned development projects, including a crucial airport site. Officials have revealed that some traditional leaders are accused of illegally selling and parcelling out land measuring 2.5km in width and 5km in length within and around the area earmarked for the airport. This directly impedes national infrastructure development and underscores the gravity of the situation.
Protecting Development and Ensuring Orderly Settlement
District Development Coordinator for Beitbridge, Miss Sikhangezile Mafu, recently confirmed during a tour of the airport site that the government is actively collaborating with senior traditional leaders to halt illegal settlements. “We have been working with senior traditional leaders in that area to restore order in terms of halting illegal settlement, and we are very hopeful to arrive at a solution soon,” said Miss Mafu. She further indicated that illegal settlers would be engaged, and those who acquired land outside the law would be removed to allow the project to proceed unhindered. This proactive approach aims to balance the need for development with the rights of citizens, while firmly upholding the rule of law.
Beitbridge Rural District Council Chairman, Cllr Oscar Chiromo, affirmed the RDC’s commitment to addressing the issue. He stated that the RDC is actively educating Ward Development Committees (WADCOs), including traditional leaders, on governance, community development, and proper settlement procedures. “As a council, we are taking this seriously. We are running awareness programmes to ensure that people understand that land allocation in communal areas follows a legal process through the Rural District Council and traditional leadership structures working together,” Cllr Chiromo explained. This educational drive is crucial in empowering communities and leaders with the knowledge to prevent future illegal land transactions.
Acting Headman Tshinoni of Beitbridge East echoed these sentiments, emphasising the sacred duty of traditional leaders as custodians of the land. “We will deal ruthlessly with all those caught selling communal land. My plea to the people is to follow proper procedures. Do not risk losing your property and money by buying land illegally,” he warned. This highlights the internal resolve within the traditional leadership structures to cleanse their ranks of corrupt elements and uphold their constitutional responsibilities.
The Legal Framework and Broader Implications
Zimbabwe’s Traditional Leaders Act (Chapter 29:17) explicitly outlines the roles and responsibilities of traditional leaders, including their authority over communal land. However, this authority is held in trust for the State and the community, not for personal enrichment. The Act stipulates that chiefs have the responsibility to prevent any unauthorised settlement or use of communal land and to approve the allocation of land in accordance with established procedures. Any deviation from these legal frameworks constitutes a criminal offence with severe repercussions.
Beyond the immediate impact on individuals and communities, illegal land sales have broader implications for national development and governance. They foster an environment of lawlessness, deter investment, and strain public resources due to the need for unplanned infrastructure and services in chaotic settlements. The government’s decisive action is therefore not merely about enforcing laws but about laying a foundation for sustainable development, equitable land distribution, and good governance across the nation.
Community members have largely welcomed the government’s firm stance, expressing hope that the verification teams on the ground and the intensified educational efforts by Rural District Councils will restore order before the situation escalates further. The ongoing crackdown, coupled with public awareness campaigns, aims to create a deterrent effect and ensure that all future land transactions adhere strictly to legal and ethical guidelines. The message is clear: the government is resolute in its commitment to ending the exploitation of communal land and bringing all perpetrators of illegal land deals to justice. The tears, it seems, will indeed be for those who defy the law.