The Government has sent a strong warning to land barons, declaring that the illegal sale of land and the mushrooming of unplanned settlements will no longer be tolerated as authorities move to restore sanity and protect the dignity of citizens. Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe, told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing in Harare this Thursday that land barons have become a destructive force undermining service delivery and urban planning. He stressed that Parliament and Government must stand united in tackling the menace, describing land barons as individuals who are fleecing desperate citizens while creating settlements that cripple the future of towns and cities. “We must stand united as Parliament and Government to put an end to lawlessness in land allocation. Land barons are fleecing people of their money and causing challenges in urban planning, so let’s work together. Our people deserve dignity, not deception,” he said.
Committee Chairperson Honourable Maxmore Njanji welcomed the government’s intervention, noting that lawmakers are constantly burdened by the challenges caused by land barons across constituencies. He said Parliament must join hands with the Executive to decisively end the displacement of citizens and the rise of chaotic urban settlements. The renewed offensive comes as Government is rolling out the Urban Stateline Policy, a comprehensive framework designed to promote sustainable urban development, protect citizens from fraudulent land deals, and empower all 92 local authorities to deliver world-class services. Anchored on pillars of governance, decentralization, innovation, enforcement, infrastructure development and compliance, the policy is set to close the space for land barons by strengthening institutional coordination and ensuring orderly settlement growth.
Analysts note that the crackdown is not only about law enforcement but also about reclaiming the vision of a modern Zimbabwe where cities and towns are planned, serviced and sustainable. Authorities insist that if the policy is implemented effectively, it will help the country achieve its aspiration of an upper-middle-income economy by 2030 while restoring public trust in urban management. The fight against land barons has become a defining test for the state’s ability to protect citizens from exploitation and to align urban development with national goals.
