Minister Garwe warns land baron village heads

Zim Now Writer

Minister of Housing and Social Amenities, Daniel Garwe, has come out guns blazing, warning village heads selling peri-urban state land on the outskirts of Harare to desist from the practice forthwith.

Village heads, particularly in Domboshava and Dema, have been making a killing by selling pieces of land to people who are coming from surrounding towns.

In an interview with Zim Now Minister Garwe said his Ministry, through relevant authorities, will make sure that those who are taking the law into their own hands and benefitting clandestinely will be brought to book and that there shall be no sacrificial lambs.

“We have a department of Rural Housing and Social Amenities which seeks to address the building of schools, clinics, and houses in rural areas.

“We are aware of some scrupulous village heads who have taken it upon themselves to parcel out land to people coming from urban areas… responsible Ministries are dealing with that, it is something which is now under the radar,” Garwe said.

He extended the warning to land barons in urban areas, adding that the local authorities have been armoured to ruthlessly nip their operations in the bud.

“Government has declared war on land barons, it has declared war on criminals and it is saying we must put a stop to that, he said.