Police arrest 184 land barons in major crackdown on illegal allocations

By Tapiwa Svondo 

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has escalated its crackdown on illegal land allocations by land barons nationwide.

The move is in response to the alarming rise of unauthorised settlements on communal, local authority, and State land.

This latest operation follows a similar crackdown in February 2024, where the police aimed to address the exploitation of vulnerable home seekers by land barons using fraudulent documents.

In a statement, police Commissioner Paul Nyathi, indicated that at least 184 individuals have so far been arrested for misleading unsuspecting individuals resulting in unlawful constructions on State-owned, wet, and grazing lands.

“The police has established that land barons are using falsified documents to deceive unsuspecting home seekers, resulting in unlawful constructions on State, wet and grazing lands.

“The actions by land barons violate the country’s laws including the Gazetted Land (Consequential Provisions) Act, Chapter 20:28, Land Commission Act, Chapter 20:29, Rural District Councils Act Chapter 29:13 and Regional, Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 29:12.

“So far, the police have made one hundred and eighty-four (184) arrests on illegal land allocations,” said Nyathi

The police are urging the public to assist in these efforts by reporting any suspected illegal activities linked to land barons.

“Members of the public are urged to come forward and report illegal acts by land barons to enable the law to take its course,” Nyathi said.