Staff Writer
The Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART) has called for investigations into alleged land barons and public officials linked to the sale and allocation of stands in areas facing demolitions across the country.
ZNOART National Chairperson Shepherd Shalvar Chikomba said authorities should not focus solely on demolishing residential structures belonging to affected residents, but must also investigate individuals who allegedly sold, allocated or facilitated the acquisition of land that was not legally available for residential development.
“The big question residents are asking is: where are the land barons?” Chikomba said in a statement dated 28 August 2026.
He said residents had invested substantial amounts of money in properties that were now facing demolition, in some cases after constructing houses from foundations to completion.
While acknowledging the responsibility of local authorities to enforce planning laws and promote orderly development, Chikomba questioned why authorities had allegedly allowed some developments to continue for months or years before taking enforcement action.
“Where were the local authorities when these stands were being sold or allocated? Where were the authorities when residents were clearing their stands and laying foundations?” he asked.
Chikomba also questioned the role of local authority planning, engineering, surveying and enforcement departments in developments that were allegedly unlawful.
He said authorities should establish who approved or inspected building plans and construction activities, who authorised the allocation or sale of the land, and who may have received payments from residents.
According to Chikomba, investigations should also establish whether public officials, councillors, local authority employees or other individuals were involved in facilitating or benefiting from questionable land transactions.
Calls for ZACC and police investigations
ZNOART has called on the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to investigate allegations of corruption, fraud, forgery, abuse of office and other possible criminal conduct surrounding disputed land transactions.
Chikomba said investigations should establish the identities and activities of alleged land barons, the ownership and legal status of disputed land, and the individuals or institutions responsible for allocating or selling stands.
He also called for scrutiny of building-plan approvals, inspections, occupation certificates and other planning processes associated with the affected developments.
The organisation further wants authorities to investigate allegations of financial payments, commissions and other benefits received by people involved in land transactions, as well as possible collusion between alleged land barons and public officials.
“Where criminal conduct is established and sufficient evidence exists, ZNOART calls for the perpetrators to be arrested and brought before the courts of law, regardless of their position, status or connections,” Chikomba said.
Residents need justice, says ZNOART
Chikomba said enforcement of planning laws should not result in residents alone bearing the consequences of what he described as a system in which some people may have been misled or defrauded.
“Residents need justice, not demolitions alone,” he said.
He welcomed Government measures providing affected residents with opportunities to regularise their circumstances where such regularisation is legally, technically and environmentally possible.
However, he said residents who were genuinely defrauded should have avenues to seek recovery of their investments from those responsible, subject to due process and the law.
“Residents should not be left without homes, without their investments and without recourse while individuals who allegedly profited from illegal land transactions remain beyond accountability,” Chikomba said.
ZNOART calls for greater transparency
The residents’ organisation is also calling for local authorities to make master plans and approved land-use plans accessible to the public.
Chikomba said residents should be able to verify the legality of residential stands before investing their money.
He called for clear and transparent procedures governing the allocation and purchase of residential stands, as well as mechanisms through which prospective homeowners can independently establish whether land is legally available for development.
ZNOART further urged authorities to protect residents who acquired properties in good faith from arbitrary or disproportionate enforcement and to provide clear regularisation pathways where legally possible.
The organisation also called for due process to be observed before demolitions are carried out.
Chikomba encouraged affected residents to preserve documents relating to their properties, including receipts, agreements of sale, allocation letters, offer letters, permits, building-plan approvals, correspondence and proof of payment.
He said such documentation could assist investigations and any subsequent legal proceedings.
ZNOART stressed that it was not opposed to lawful urban planning, orderly settlements, environmental protection or enforcement of planning laws.
Instead, Chikomba said enforcement should be accompanied by accountability, transparency, due process and protection for residents who acted in good faith.
“The fight against illegal settlements must go hand in hand with the fight against the individuals who allegedly created, facilitated and profited from them,” he said.
Chikomba said the organisation wanted urgent, transparent, impartial and coordinated investigations into the disputed land transactions.
“If there are land barons, why are residents seeing demolitions while the alleged perpetrators remain at large?” he asked.
He said the public needed to see clear evidence that the law applied equally to residents, officials and individuals who allegedly facilitated or profited from illegal land transactions.
“Land barons must be investigated. Where there is sufficient evidence, land barons must be arrested and prosecuted. No to corruption. Justice for affected residents.
“Residents’ rights must prevail,” Chikomba said.