Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has called for better land administration, proper planning and secure land ownership as the government works to create well-planned and sustainable communities across Zimbabwe.
Speaking at a High-Level Stakeholder Breakfast Meeting in Harare on Thursday, Minister Garwe said access to secure land was important for people’s dignity, economic empowerment and the achievement of Vision 2030.
He said Government was concerned about illegal land sales, land barons and unplanned settlements, which have left many people at risk of losing their homes and money.
“Land is not simply a physical resource. Secure access to land provides people with dignity, security and peace of mind,” Minister Garwe said.
He said Government was working to ensure that land was properly planned, allocated and legally secured.
The Minister said the reforms were not only focused on agricultural land but also covered residential, commercial and other types of land.
“Secure tenure could also unlock the economic value of property by allowing owners of titled land to use their assets to access financing and invest in businesses,” he said.
Minister Garwe said Government was also working to help families who had lived in homes for many years without formal title deeds.
“Some families had lived in their homes for between 10 and 15 years, while others had inherited properties from their parents,” he said.
He said such families should be assisted to obtain title deeds if they had legally occupied the properties and met the necessary requirements.
The Minister, however, warned people against buying land from individuals without first checking whether they legally owned the property or had permission to sell it.
He said illegal settlements were creating problems for Government and local authorities, especially when houses were built on land that had not been properly surveyed, planned or serviced.
“Government is not interested in demolishing people’s homes. No responsible Government wants to see families lose their homes. But Government also has a responsibility to enforce the law and protect citizens from unsafe, illegal and unsustainable settlements,” he said.
Minister Garwe said proper planning should come before the development of residential areas.
“Communities should have access to roads, clean water, sanitation, schools, health facilities, recreational areas and spaces for businesses and other economic activities,” he said.
He also called for stronger cooperation between Government ministries, local authorities, traditional leaders, the private sector and communities in managing and developing land.
Local authorities, he said, had an important role in ensuring orderly development through master plans and local development plans.
Government was also working to promote balanced development between rural and urban areas to manage population movement and reduce pressure on cities.
Minister Garwe said good land administration and governance required cooperation between Government and citizens.
“Good governance is a partnership between Government and the people. The Government must do its part, and citizens must do theirs,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to work together to create communities with secure land ownership, decent housing, reliable infrastructure, quality public services and economic opportunities.
“The Zimbabwe we want by 2030 will not be created by Government alone. It will be created by all of us—Government, local authorities, traditional leaders, the private sector, civil society and communities,” he said.
The Minister said Zimbabwe should focus on planning for future needs instead of waiting for settlement problems to emerge.
He said issues such as population growth, climate change, housing demand, infrastructure and economic development should be considered when planning new communities.
Minister Garwe said Vision 2030 could still be achieved if all stakeholders worked together, followed the law and supported proper and sustainable development.
The meeting was attended by Agriculture, Heritage, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka; Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and Land Tenure Implementation Committee chairperson Dr Kuda Tagwirei, among other senior Government officials.
