Govt Warns Land Barons, Traditional Leaders Over Rampant, Illegal “Sabhuku Deals”

The government has reiterated that communal land is not for sale, warning villagers, traditional leaders, and land barons against the illegal allocation of rural and peri-urban land.

Reports suggest there is a rampant, accelerating sale of land for housing and agriculture across the country through what are known as “Sabhuku” (village head) deals, with some of the buyers being members of the diaspora.

Addressing the media in Harare on Monday, 18 May, the Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, Tafadzwa Muguti, said the Office of the President and Cabinet—working alongside the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development—is determined to protect rural communities from exploitation by land barons and corrupt officials.

Muguti stressed that under the Communal Land Act, traditional and communal leaders have absolutely no legal authority to sell land.

“Our position is very clear: that communal land is not for sale. We are noticing that there’s a rampant and escalating invasion of land which is taking place across the country,” said Muguti.

“We are aware of this, and also the President, cabinet, and the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development are working closely to ensure that all of our Ministers of State in all the ten provinces are ensuring that we’re going to really put an end to this.

“We would like to appeal to the general public, especially those in the rural communities, that if you see anyone coming across wanting to peg land, anyone coming across—even the village head himself—you have the right to report this matter directly to the police.

“You also have the right to approach the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, or the Secretaries for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, or the District Development Coordinators under the Ministry of Local Government.

“This is a matter which has been going on for the last seven years, and we’re seeing an escalation.

“And just to put the record straight, communal leaders, traditional leaders, are not allowed by the Communal Land Act to sell land.”

Related:

Govt Declares War On Land Barons, Warns Headmen, Village Heads Face Arrest And Dismissal Over “Sabhuku Deals” Muguti: More than 3,000 village heads face arrest for “Sabhuku Deals”