Nguluvhe Warns Zimbabwe Headmen: Illegal Land Sales Will Lead to Arrests

• Nguluvhe, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South, issued a strong warning against village heads selling communal land without government authorisation at the Tshitaudze Heritage Festival in Beitbridge.
• Reports indicate some traditional leaders are selling communal land for up to R10,000, an act Nguluvhe declared illegal and beyond their authority. The government has reaffirmed that communal land is not for sale.
• He threatened personal intervention and arrests for those who continue unauthorised land sales, emphasizing the responsibility of traditional leaders to preserve land for future generations. The government has issued a final warning, stating that identified offenders, including headmen and village heads, face immediate arrest and prosecution.
• Nguluvhe used a Ndebele cultural analogy to stress accountability, stating headmen are responsible for activities in their areas and must secure government approval for land transactions.
• He also discussed broader economic development initiatives, including improving infrastructure, funding cultural festivals, and connecting local producers to markets, while supporting SMEs and women in business.

If they continue to do that, I will personally come and deal with them myself, and we will arrest them.

A senior official, Nguluvhe, recently issued a stern warning to traditional leaders in Zimbabwe, specifically addressing reports of village heads engaging in the unauthorised sale of communal land. The remarks were made on Sunday during the official opening of the Tshitaudze Heritage Festival in Beitbridge, where concerns have mounted over illicit land transactions.

Reports indicate that some village heads have been selling communal land for sums reaching up to R10,000 per transaction, critically, without the necessary government authorisation. Nguluvhe explicitly stated that such actions are beyond the scope of their authority, underscoring the gravity of these unauthorised land transactions Zimbabwe is currently grappling with in certain areas. This public declaration by Nguluvhe warns Zimbabwe headmen illegal land sales will not be tolerated.

He stressed that traditional leaders bear a fundamental responsibility to safeguard communal land, ensuring its preservation for future generations. The official questioned the long-term implications of such sales, asking where the grandchildren of those involved would reside if the land is continually sold off. This highlights a critical aspect of Zimbabwe communal land sales, which are intended to be held in trust for community benefit.

Nguluvhe unequivocally stated that traditional leaders are not empowered to sell land, and any continued engagement in such activities would lead to direct intervention and arrests. He warned that if these practices persist, he would personally intervene to address the situation, signaling a heightened commitment to Zimbabwe land tenure law enforcement. The Zimbabwean government has officially prohibited the unauthorized sale of state land by traditional headmen, a practice locally known as 'Sabhuku Deals,' with officials stating that only the Ministry of Lands holds the legal authority to issue offer letters.

To illustrate the principle of accountability, Nguluvhe drew upon an example from Ndebele culture, explaining that if a wife kills a chicken that does not belong to her, the husband, not the wife, bears the blame. He applied this analogy directly to the traditional leaders, asserting that headmen are ultimately responsible for activities within their areas and must cease selling land without explicit government approval. This underscores the limits of traditional leaders land authority ZW, particularly concerning the alienation of communal property.

The official's remarks serve as a clear directive that all land transactions within communal areas must adhere strictly to government regulations and obtain proper authorisation. The explicit threat of arrest underscores the government's intent to crack down on illegal land dealings, particularly those involving Beitbridge village heads land, ensuring that traditional leadership roles are exercised within legal frameworks. The government has issued final warnings to land barons, headmen, village heads, and illegal land dealers, stating that identified offenders face immediate arrest and prosecution.

Beyond the immediate issue of illegal land sales, Nguluvhe also addressed broader themes pertinent to local economic development and governance during the festival. He identified infrastructure, funding, and market access as crucial areas requiring attention to ensure cultural festivals contribute meaningfully to the local economy. Specific improvements mentioned included enhancing access roads to cultural sites like Tshitaudze, supporting festivals and artisans through Constituency Development Funds (CDF) and Devolution Funds, and establishing market linkages to connect local producers with regional and international markets.

Nguluvhe highlighted Beitbridge's strategic importance as a gateway, not merely a border town, emphasizing its potential to attract tourists who would contribute to the local economy by utilizing lodges and purchasing crafts. He called upon various entities, including government departments, ZimTrade, SMEDCO, and the private sector, to forge partnerships with the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) participating in the festival. The inclusive nature of the festival was noted through its varied stall fees, ranging from US$10 to US$50, accommodating both large companies and village grandmothers, which he cited as an example of devolution in action.

The government, Nguluvhe affirmed, remains committed to supporting women and SMEs involved in crafts, food processing, and agribusiness. He encouraged these entrepreneurs to register with relevant organizations like ZimTrade and SMEDCO to facilitate their growth and potential entry into export markets. Furthermore, he pointed to Matabeleland South's rich cultural diversity and liberation heritage as untapped resources that could generate economic opportunities for young people, advocating for investment in cultural tourism, accommodation, and value addition to transform heritage sites and living traditions into employment for the youth.

This statement signals increased government scrutiny and potential enforcement action against unauthorized communal land sales by traditional leaders in Zimbabwe. Lawyers advising clients on land acquisition or development in communal areas must ensure rigorous due diligence to confirm proper government authorization, mitigating risks of invalid transactions or criminal liability.

Source: Original reporting via local media