Criminal land barons who are illegally parcelling out residential stands using Zanu-PF’s name will be arrested, the ruling party’s Secretary for Administration and Local Government Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo has said.
Dr Chombo told The State Media last week that it was a criminal offence for party activists to parcel out land. He said Zanu-PF does not condone such behavior and those found on the wrong side of the law would be brought to book.
“All the laws in this country were made by Zanu-PF. So we cannot make laws that we do not want to follow. We want them to be followed to the later not only by our supporters and activists but also by the generality of Zimbabweans.
“We do not tolerate criminal activities and anyone who breaks the laws will be arrested especially land barons and unscrupulous land developers who are hiding behind the name of the party to do their criminal activities. I can assure you that they will find themselves behind bars,” he said.
He said his ministry had directed all local authorities to draft mechanisms to deal with illegal settlements.
“We have given them two months to deal with the issue of illegal settlements. So as we speak they are assessing the magnitude of the problem and they will make their presentations and we will take it from there,” he said.
Dr Chombo said some settlements would be regularised as the beneficiaries were mere victims of the criminal barons’ activities.
“We are legalising some of those illegal stands but obviously some will be affected. For example those who are building on institutional stands like schools, under power lines and so on (will be removed),” he said.
A fortnight ago, former Zanu-PF Harare province youth chair Cde Godwin Gomwe was arrested for allegedly giving out stands illegally.