The Zimbabwean government has enlisted military support to tackle the escalating issue of illegal settlements on agricultural lands.
The decision to involve the army in evictions was disclosed in Parliament, where Murewa South MP Noah Mangondo expressed alarm over the spread of unauthorized settlements on A1 and A2 farms.
Mangondo criticized existing agencies’ inability to curb the illegal occupation of land and demanded government intervention.
In response, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Anxious Masuka, clarified that law enforcement bears the responsibility for evicting unlawful settlers, urging affected farmers to report such cases to the police rather than approaching land offices.
Masuka also revealed that a joint task force—comprising the Zimbabwe National Army, police, Air Force, President’s Department, and Prisons Service—has been formed to conduct coordinated operations aimed at removing illegal occupants.
Masuka further underscored the violations these settlements pose under the Communal Lands Act and warned of legal consequences. He added that the Land Inspectorate within his ministry often encounters resistance from illegal settlers, highlighting the importance of the military’s support. The Minister also noted ongoing efforts to demarcate farm boundaries with the help of the Surveyor-General and the Zimbabwe Lands Commission to aid in dispute resolution.
Zimbabwe’s land reform, initiated in 2000, remains unfinished, with recent land invasions and evictions disrupting agricultural productivity. Masuka assured Parliament of the government’s commitment to restoring order and stability in the country’s land distribution process.
