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Honourable Cain Mathema

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Land Commission has decentralised its operations as it seeks to address land disputes and ensure that land is fully utilised countrywide.

In a statement, the commission said decentralisation would improve land audits and promote accountability in the agricultural sector.

“The public is advised that the Zimbabwe Land Commission deals with complaints and disputes regarding agricultural land. Included among its functions are periodic audits of agriculture land and farm inspections. These functions are meant to ensure accountability, fairness and transparency in the administration and management of agricultural land,” reads the statement.

“To this extent, farm beneficiaries are advised that they can contact the Zimbabwe Land Commission officials at provinces for assistance over issues such as complaints and disputes.”

Previously, the commission had offices in Harare only but now it has set up offices in all the country’s provinces.

In an interview, Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Cain Mathema said the decentralisation was in line with the Government’s objective of bringing services closer to the people.

“Government services must go down to the lowest levels so that people can know Government programmes. People shouldn’t move from Victoria Falls to seek services in Harare, its Rhodesian, very colonial. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the Government must be seen to be performing.

Government services should be received even at village or ward level. It’s not just the land commission, all Government services should be felt and seen by the citizens,” he said.

Cde Mathema, who is also Zanu-PF Secretary for Lands, said the decentralisation comes at a time when Government is dealing with rampant corruption in the land sector.

“The current issue is that there are so many illegal occupiers of land. There are people who are invading land. There is also double to triple allocation of land. There was a lot of corruption in the Ministry of Lands, even in Matabeleland North where district officers gave land to anybody they wanted. Some of the officers have been fired from Government,” said Cde Mathema.

He said farm invasions would be dealt with decisively. — @nqotshili.