GOVERNMENT has stepped up efforts to curb multiple land ownership by gazetting the Land Commission Bill to allow for periodic land audits.
Source: Govt moves to flush out multiple farm owners – NewsDay Zimbabwe June 20, 2016
BY Everson Mushava
This comes as several Zanu PF bigwigs and top government officials have been implicated in corrupt land deals that have seen most of them acquire multiple prime farms at the expense of the general populace.
The Bill, gazetted last Friday, will allow the establishment of the Land Commission, whose main task will be to conduct comprehensive inspections and audits of agricultural land in order to ensure fairness and transparency in the distribution of the properties.
The Land Commission replaces the Agricultural Land Resettlement Board.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared that, conformably to section 297(3) of the Constitution, the commission exercises its functions (apart from its dispute settlement function) subject to any policy directive, which the minister may give it. The commission shall do such other things, not inconsistent with the constitution or this Act, as may be required by the minister,” section 4(1)(2) of the Bill reads.
The Bill provides for the independence and impartiality of both the members and the commission.
According to section 7 of the Bill, the commission will be required to submit a report to the Lands minister not more than 60 days after the end of each financial year.
The commission has also been empowered to refuse to investigate complaints that are not authorised by the Bill.
The Bill, which appears to give too much powers to the Lands minister, will also provide recommendations for land usage, land usage size, acquisitions and compensation.
In consultation with the Finance minister, the Lands minister will also be empowered to charge monthly or annual rentals to be payable by holders of partially alienated State land.
The Lands minister will also give directions to the commissions on policies that he considers to be in the national interest.
“No legal proceedings shall lie against the commission or any member of the commission or the executive of any acting under the direction of the commission in respect of anything which is done in good faith and without gross negligence in pursuance of this Act,” section 58 reads.
COMMENTS
TJINGABABILI KNOWS THAT YOU JOKERS ARE HOPELESS! EMPTY AND HOLLOW WORDS.
Multiple farm owners is one thing. What about those who have grabbed farms systematically one by one? Wrecked each farm in turn and moved onto the next. Shouldn’t those people be made accountable for the damage they have done?
Lets start with uncle Bobby
As usual the govt can’t let go. Why should the “land minister”, most likely a clueless politician appointed by an equally clueless boss, have ultimate say over property rights? Besides, the “big boss” will just appoint those already owning 10 farms each so compromising the Commission from birth (remember the anti corruption and electoral commissions?). The solution to multiple/underutilized land ownership is simple – incremental taxation with no leasing. If taxes are applied to the letter and without favour all these “land lords” will surrender their farms or lose them to the taxman (for redistribution to genuine farmers). For that to happen Zanu PF must go.