Land barons target schools
KUDAKWASHE CHIBVURI
Despite several attempts by the government and law enforcement agents to deal effectively with land theft across the country, it has emerged that land barons have refused to die and are now targeting schools.
Land barons have become a menace across the country particularly in Harare with several attempts being made including at the highest level to stop them.
The land dealers have in the past been targeting land meant for recreational facilities, wetlands and selling to unsuspecting seekers.
Now their target is schools with Kuwadzana 2 Head Mary Mupandawana pleading for government intervention and assistance.
“Our school ground has been taken over by the land barons,” she said. “We have endured their attacks for years. We even reached out to the Ministry of State for Provincial Affairs urging them to intervene.”
She said the challenge is not only affecting her school but many others in the community.
“Our sister schools in Kuwadzana face the same menace from the land barons. We hope the Harare Metropolitan province ministry will intervene, as the sporting facilities have been seized,” she said.
Earlier this year, in the wake of the land barons menace, several ministers, including Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Local Government and Public Works, Home Affairs and that of National Housing and Social Amenities issued a joint press statement warning land barons.
Many were arrested at the time.
It has also emerged that Chiefs are selling state land to unsuspecting land seekers with the Lands Commission warning action will be taken against those involved.
Speaking after she was sworn in by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House on Tuesday, Sukai Tongogara, said: “I am hoping we will be concentrating on their mandate of agricultural land and that’s where the corruption was in the allocation of land. The chiefs are just going about illegally selling government property or government land.”
“That’s where my focus will be to try and ensure that the members of the public are not disadvantaged,” she added.
