CAHSZ Unveils Community Protection Guide to safegu...

CAHSZ Unveils Community Protection Guide to safeguard land rights

Runodada Witness

Zim Now Writer

The Community Alliance for Human Settlements in Zimbabwe in partnership with the Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association and the Epworth Residents Development Association on September 12, 2024 launched the Community Land Protection Guide.

This Guide is designed to help communities safeguard their land rights in the face of growing threats.

It addresses key challenges, such as securing legal land ownership, promoting sustainable land use, and advancing land rights for women and marginalised groups.

It also provides guidance on seeking support in cases of forced eviction. Currently available in Shona and Ndebele, the guide will be translated into more languages to broaden its reach and accessibility.

Hundreds of families were reduced to being squatters after they were forced to demolish their own homes during the operation Order No to Land Barons. Some of the affected villagers have attributed the shambolic settlement of people without proper documentation to government officials, particularly those from the Lands Ministry.

The Community Land Protection Guide was developed in response to Zimbabwe's escalating land demands, driven by population growth, climate change, and advocacy for equitable land access.

The initiative emerged in response to escalating land demands and conflicts, fuelled by population growth, climate change, and increasing calls for equitable land access. In some rural ad peri-urban areas, traditional leaders have been accused of mismanaging land allocation by demanding excessive payments, leading to social unrest.

ERDA secretary-general, Peter Nyapetwa pointed out that council officials often redirect people to land barons who sell stands meant for regualrisation to wealthy people.

"The operation of council is opaque, Because corruption its difficult get a stand in an open bidding, but however if you approach either councilor or admin they refer you to a ready barons who facilitated the transaction for their benefit as regularisation stands are not for sale, but distribution and reallocation for the informal settlers who are virtue beneficiary of the INSTU UPGRADING after payment of surveyors US$400 fees, but the stands are being unfortunately sold rich people outsider for amount ranking between 4000 and 6000 by barons whilst forwarding only 400 to council for regularization pocketing the rest" he said.

Lucia Nkani, an Epworth resident stated, “We were evicted in 2017 and haven't been allocated land to build on since then. My father passed away, leaving us his house, but after the eviction, we had no choice but to rent. We approached the council, but they keep giving us false hope, promising to relocate us to a new stand, yet nothing has been fulfilled. In Epworth, those with money can easily get a stand, but for us who were evicted, they claim there's no land or space available.”

"Our partnership with ERDA and CAMERA underscores the critical need to enhance our collective efforts in advocating for land and resource rights within our communities. These organisations have been pivotal in promoting proper settlement regularization and advocating for free, prior, and informed consent.

“Recently, we launched the community land protection guide, which serves as a framework to help communities understand their rights and provides a clear referral process for those facing eviction,” said Tatenda Madziro of CAHSZ.