Staff Writer
The Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART) has called on law-enforcement agencies to investigate and, where evidence warrants, arrest land barons, illegal land developers, estate agents, sabhukus and other individuals allegedly involved in unlawful land transactions.
ZNOART National Chairman Shalvar Chikomba said the organisation supported Government efforts to clamp down on illegal land invasions, unauthorised land allocations and so-called “Sabhuku deals”, arguing that residents who may have been deceived into purchasing residential stands should not bear the full burden of enforcement action.
“Our position is clear: residents who were deceived into buying land must not be treated as criminals while those who illegally sold, allocated or benefited from that land remain free,” Chikomba said.
He called on the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to conduct comprehensive investigations into suspected illegal land transactions.
Chikomba said investigations should establish who allocated the land, who sold it, who collected payments, who facilitated the transactions and who ultimately benefited from the deals.
“If land was illegally occupied, subdivided and sold to residents, the authorities must investigate the people who created and profited from that scheme — not simply descend upon the residents who purchased the stands,” he said.
ZNOART also raised concerns over the possible involvement of local authorities, estate agents, intermediaries and public officials in questionable land transactions.
Chikomba said individuals found to have abused their positions, facilitated illegal transactions or engaged in corrupt activities should face arrest and prosecution where sufficient evidence exists.
He said ZNOART would engage the ZRP, ZACC and NPA and submit information relating to suspected illegal land deals for further investigation.
The organisation has also urged residents who believe they were victims of land barons, illegal developers or fraudulent land transactions to report their cases to the police or ZACC.
Chikomba encouraged affected residents to preserve evidence such as receipts, proof of payment, agreements of sale, allocation letters, stand details, WhatsApp messages, bank records and correspondence with individuals or institutions involved in the transactions.
At the same time, he urged residents to exercise caution before purchasing residential stands by verifying land ownership, planning status, subdivision approvals and the authority of the seller with the relevant authorities.
ZNOART has also questioned how illegal subdivisions and developments could have taken place without detection by local authorities.
“Where were the local authorities when land barons and illegal developers were taking over, subdividing and selling land within areas under their jurisdiction?” Chikomba asked.
He said authorities should explain how roads, residential stands and other developments were created without following proper planning procedures, and identify those who may have approved, facilitated, ignored or failed to stop the developments.
Chikomba further called on local authorities to publicly disclose their approved master plans, development plans and available residential land banks.
He said residents should have access to information showing areas earmarked for lawful residential development, land reserved for future development, local authority and privately owned land, areas unsuitable for construction, public facilities and infrastructure, as well as environmentally sensitive areas.
According to Chikomba, greater transparency in land administration would help prevent residents from falling victim to fraudulent land schemes.
ZNOART also called for stronger protection of wetlands, water catchment areas, open spaces and recreational areas amid concerns over the invasion and development of environmentally sensitive land.
“Wetlands must not be sacrificed in the name of housing development or commercial interests,” Chikomba said, calling for planned, sustainable and environmentally responsible human settlements.
He stressed that the law should be applied equally to residents and those who allegedly facilitate illegal land transactions.
“If an ordinary resident can face the full force of the law for occupying or building on disputed or illegally allocated land, then those who allegedly illegally sold, allocated, facilitated or profited from that land must also be investigated,” Chikomba said.
“We cannot have a situation where the victim is punished while the alleged perpetrator continues operating freely.”
Chikomba said ZNOART would continue advocating for justice, transparency, accountability, proper urban planning, environmental protection and lawful housing development.
He said the organisation stood with residents who had been defrauded, deceived or misled in land transactions and maintained that land barons should not be above the law.