By Lawson Chiwara
The land dispute in Zaka is not an isolated case, but part of a wider and deeper crisis of land ownership and governance in the country.
Similar phenomena have happened in other parts of the country, particularly in Gutu, where hundreds of houses have been demolished and homeowners have been threatened with legal action if they do not comply by demolishing the “illegal structures” themselves. The illegal land sales and demolitions in Gutu have been caused by the same factors that have sparked the conflict in Zaka: the lack of clear and transparent land policies and procedures, the corruption and collusion of the land barons and the authorities, and the desperation and ignorance of the residents who have limited access to affordable and legal land and housing.
The illegal land sales and demolitions in Gutu have also had devastating effects on the people and the environment: the loss of property and livelihoods, the displacement and trauma of families, the destruction of infrastructure and services, and the degradation of natural resources and ecosystems.
The authorities, the land barons, and the residents in Gutu have responded and reacted to the illegal land sales and demolitions in different ways, some of which are similar to or different from those in Zaka.
The authorities in Gutu have justified their actions by citing the need to restore order and sanity and to protect the public interest and the rule of law. They have also blamed the land barons and the residents for the illegal land sales and demolitions, and have denied any responsibility or accountability for the crisis. The land barons in Gutu have defended their actions by claiming that they have provided a service and a solution to the people who have been neglected and marginalized by the authorities. They have also accused the authorities of being selective and biased in their enforcement of the law, and of having ulterior motives and agendas for the land.
The residents in Gutu have expressed mixed feelings and opinions about the illegal land sales and demolitions. Some have accepted and complied with the authorities’ orders, while others have resisted and challenged them. Some have expressed regret and remorse for buying and building on the illegal land, while others have expressed anger and frustration at the authorities and the land barons for deceiving and exploiting them. Some have also appealed to the government and human rights organizations to intervene and assist them, while others have lost hope and faith in the system and society.
Here are some quotes from the sources or the stakeholders in Gutu.
“We are not demolishing people’s houses for fun, but for the sake of development and order. These people have built their houses on land that is not meant for residential purposes, and they have violated the laws and regulations that govern land use and allocation. We are simply enforcing the law and protecting the public interest.” – Gutu District Administrator, Mr. Chikwanda
“We are not land barons, but land developers. We have helped the people who have been suffering and struggling to find land and housing in this country. We have sold them land at affordable prices, and we have given them the documents and the receipts to prove their ownership. We have not done anything wrong or illegal.” – Mr Moyo, a land seller in Gutu
“We are the victims of this land crisis, not the perpetrators. We have bought and built our houses on this land because we had no other choice or option. We have paid our money and we have followed the procedures that were given to us by the land sellers and the village heads. We have not broken any law or harmed anyone. Why are they punishing us and destroying our homes?” – Mrs Chikwara, a resident in Gutu
The land dispute in Zaka and Gutu reveals the complex and multifaceted nature of the land ownership and governance crisis in the country, and the need for a comprehensive and inclusive solution that addresses the root causes and the effects of the crisis, and that respects and balances the rights and interests of all the stakeholders involved.
