Mugabe grabs more land

The move is in blatant violation of the Global Political Agreement (GPA), which calls for a land audit to establish who owns which land before any more can be acquired by the state.

During the negotiations between the political parties, it was also agreed that land would not be taken without compensation being first provided.

However, Zanu (PF) has already reneged on this, along with many other key terms of the GPA.

Last week, minister of lands and rural resettlement, Herbert Murerwa, a trusted Mugabe lieutenant, published more notices targeting urban land. He said in the notices that Mugabe wanted the land, measuring 135 hectares, for undisclosed urban developments.

The gazetted land in Aspindale and Lochinvar belonged to Marimba Industrial Holdings and Marimba Residential Properties.

In a related development, businessman Phillip Chiyangwa’s Pinnacle Property Holdings has started selling land in Stoneridge suburb despite an order by Murerwa for the land to be acquired by the state. Pinnacle has been advertising the land on television and urging prospective stand owners to pay $150 before they sign agreements. Pinnacle’s Stoneridge land was gazetted for compulsory acquisition in March.

In terms of the draconian Land Acquisition Act, land that has been gazetted automatically reverts to the state. A constitutional amendment hastily passed by Zanu (PF) makes it difficult for affected owners to get justice through the courts.

Continuing state land acquisitions and farm invasions by Zanu (PF) militants have remained a major sticking point in the GPA.

Observers expressed fears that the decision by Mugabe to acquire urban land, having disrupted the farm property market could spell disaster for property owners.

“What the government is doing is to completely senseless. They are destroying whats left of the property market in Zimbabwe,” said Kate Matema of the consumer rights lobby group Consumer Action. “If you look at some of the urban properties that are targetted, you will notice that they belong to people who are not popular with Zanu (PF). The message, especially to businesses and people in the diaspora, is clear: support Mugabe or lose even the urban land that you thought was safe. This is a disaster, especially at this time when Zimbabweans all over the world are hoping to invest in property before they move to settle back in the country.”

She added: “Many Zimbabweans are likely to lose their money this way. Many others will just panic and take their money elsewhere. Zimbabwe stands to lose a lot by these confusing pronouncements. We would not be surprised if this is political persecution disguised as well-meaning development proposals. Its the Zanu (PF) way.”