Govt gives urban land defaulters three-month ultimatum

Source: Govt gives urban land defaulters three-month ultimatum – herald

Ivan Zhakata

 Herald Correspondent

INDIVIDUALS, housing co-operatives, private developers, companies, institutions and other beneficiaries of urban State land have been given a three-month ultimatum by Government to settle outstanding obligations or risk losing their land.

In a statement yesterday, Permanent Secretary for Local Government and Public Works, Dr John Basera, said Government had noted with concern the continued failure by some allottees to comply with conditions attached to their land allocations.

He said the affected beneficiaries had failed to pay purchase prices and outstanding balances, statutory charges, surrender and transfer commonage stands and other land due to Government, as well as fulfil other obligations contained in their allocation documents, development permits, agreements or approvals.

“These obligations form an integral part of every allocation and are legally binding,” Dr Basera said.

He said the failure to comply was undermining orderly urban development, prejudicing Government interests and delaying the provision of essential public infrastructure and services, including schools, health facilities and recreational amenities.

“Accordingly, Government hereby grants a final period of three months from the date of publication of this notice for all defaulting allottees to regularise their obligations,” Dr Basera said.

During the three-month compliance period, all defaulting beneficiaries are required to settle all outstanding payments due to Government, remit commonage stands and any other land due to the State in terms of their allocation conditions, and fulfil all outstanding contractual and statutory obligations.

Dr Basera said Government would take legal and administrative action against defaulters at the expiry of the compliance period.

“At the expiry of the three-month compliance period, Government shall institute appropriate legal and administrative measures against all defaulters, including but not limited to cancellation of land allocations, repossession of the allocated land without further notice, subject to the applicable law, recovery of outstanding amounts due to Government, and any other remedies available under the law,” he said.

The Ministry encouraged all affected beneficiaries to immediately engage the Department of Urban State Land Management to facilitate the regularisation of their obligations within the stipulated period.

Dr Basera said Government remained committed to ensuring transparency, accountability and the efficient administration of urban State land in the national interest.