Police Goes After Land Barons

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has commended the public for their cooperation and the information received on the ongoing government country’s operation on land barons and illegal settlements on rural and urban areas.
The operation started in January 2024 and is still in progress. As of 12 February 2024, there was a total of 3775 suspects and have been arrested with 985 convictions being made by the courts. There are 3360 cases pending trial.
“The arrests were made in Masvingo where 28 suspects were accounted for in Tokwane-Ngundu Resettlement. The suspects had illegally settled on the grazing lands without the authority of the Ministry of Land, Agricultural, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development”, reads part of the statement.
“In Mashonaland West Province, police arrested 26 suspects who were distributing gazetted land to their relatives at Lazy Five Farm. Investigations indicate that the suspects were paying US$15.00 or maize equivalent to the plot holders. In Matabeleland South, 123 suspects have been arrested at Enyandeni Resettlement Area in Gwanda”, the police said.
“Thulani Nzima (53) of Matabeleland North Province was arrested for the illegal allocation of land in which he allocated six residential stands to desperate home-seekers for payment in Siganda Mbembeswana 1 village Nyamandlovu. Investigations carried out have indicated that the beneficiaries paid US$300.00 and ZAR4 000.00 to the suspect”, according to the suspect.
The police will continue giving updates on the operation to the public. The public should be free to report criminal activities by land barons at any nearest Police Station.