By Emmanuel Nduka
The Government of Zimbabwe is set to launch a comprehensive Urban State Land Management Policy designed to end widespread land corruption, dismantle illegal settlements, and promote sustainable urban development across the country.
The new policy, spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, marks a significant shift in Zimbabwe’s urban land governance strategy.
It comes amid mounting public frustration over the influence of land barons, lax regulation, and the uncontrolled expansion of informal settlements lacking basic infrastructure like roads, clean water, and sanitation.
The framework is rooted in the findings of the Justice Uchena Commission of Inquiry on the Sale of Urban State Land, which revealed systemic flaws in the way urban land has been allocated and managed. The commission found that much of the land was illegally distributed by politically connected individuals without proper engineering or environmental assessments, resulting in unregulated sprawl and declining public trust in local authorities.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. John Basera, described the policy as a collaborative milestone and a critical component of Zimbabwe’s development agenda under Vision 2030. “This policy reflects our collective effort to reshape urban land governance and ensure fair, transparent, and sustainable urban development,” he stated.
Key objectives of the policy include enhancing public health and safety through better-planned settlements, eliminating fraudulent land transactions, and improving coordination among institutions involved in urban development. It will also establish dedicated urban land management offices at both provincial and district levels to enforce planning standards and oversee implementation.
To ensure its success, the policy introduces inter-ministerial task forces and technical committees to boost oversight and collaboration. A transparent compensation mechanism is also included to support residents affected by relocations, along with measures to attract private sector investment in infrastructure development.
The urgency of reform is underscored by alarming figures from the Harare City Council, which recently reported that over 100,000 houses in and around the capital have been constructed without proper authorization. Testifying before the Justice Maphios Cheda Commission on Harare’s urban governance, Principal Housing Officer Mr. Edgar Dzehonye claimed that councillors are complicit in facilitating illegal settlements, often shielding land barons from legal action.
Officials believe that if fully implemented, the policy will mark the end of Zimbabwe’s chaotic urban sprawl, restore public confidence, and promote transparent, accountable land management. It is also seen as a key step toward achieving the country’s Vision 2030 goal of becoming an upper middle-income economy.
