The government has mobilized the army and the President’s Department to assist the police in removing illegal settlers from commercial farms, according to a report by NewsDay.
This development was revealed in the National Assembly last Thursday, when Murewa South MP Noah Mangondo (ZANU PF) raised concerns about the rise of illegal settlements on both A1 and A2 farms. Mangondo questioned what the government was doing to address the problem, noting that several government departments appeared to be failing in resolving the issue.
In his response, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Anxious Masuka, emphasized that farmers should report illegal settlers directly to the police. He explained:
“If you approach the Lands office to remove an unlawful settler, you are going to the wrong place. The responsibility lies with the police to take legal action against these settlers.”
Masuka pointed out that the Land Inspectorate, a unit within his ministry, also plays a role in ensuring proper enforcement. However, he acknowledged that land officers have faced threats from some invaders during their visits. Consequently, the army has been enlisted to support police efforts in evicting these illegal settlers.
Masuka further elaborated:
“We now have four groups working together within the ministry, including the Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force, ZRP, the President’s Department, and Prisons, forming a joint operation command to ensure that land officers can safely carry out their work and reach areas where settlers are unlawfully occupying land.”
He reiterated that those who unlawfully settle on land are breaking the law and must be arrested. To further support eviction efforts, the Surveyor-General has also been engaged to demarcate land boundaries.
Despite the government’s land reform program initiated in the early 2000s, many Zimbabweans still lack land. Reports suggest that large portions of land have been allocated to politically connected individuals and their families, leaving hundreds of thousands without land.
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