Commission head speaks out

chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into the acquisition of State land, Justice Tendai Uchena, has said the acquisition and occupation of State land in most provinces across the country was done in a chaotic manner which resulted in some beneficiaries living in squalid conditions.

He said some of the situations were a ticking time bomb for diseases.

The lands commission, which is on a fact finding mission on how State land was acquired and allocated among other issues, is touring the Midlands province.

Justice Uchena said they had since visited eight provinces so far and were set to complete their fact finding mission in the Midlands province on June 28.

Justice Uchena, who was speaking during a courtesy call to the Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister, Senator Larry Mavima at his Government Complex offices last week, said the commission was on a mission to unravel how State land was acquired and what type of development was taking place on the acquired land.

“We also want to know how the acquired land was being developed,” he said. “Whether there is any development or not and if there is development, is it being done lawfully? Are the lay out plans for such development being followed, among other issues?

Justice Uchena said in some of the provinces they visited, the situation was chaotic, with some beneficiaries of the land living in squashed conditions with no water and sewer reticulation, thereby exposing themselves to a health hazard.

“These are some of the issues we look into, among others,” he said. “In some of the provinces where we have visited, the situation is bad. We have been visiting the sites and at some areas we would find that a person was given a residential stand as small as 150 square meters and they have already occupied their land, but with no water and sewer.

“Some have dug shallow wells and built Blair toilets in an urban set up, with distance of about 10 metres between the toilet and the well. It’s unhealthy, but it’s fortunate that we haven’t come across such scenarios in the Midlands province.”

Justice Uchena said after touring all the provinces, the commission will compile a report before handing it over to President Mnangagwa. Sen Mavima said the province had been waiting for the commission for a while. He said for the country to achieve the President’s vision, there was need to correct some of the irregularities that were done in the allocation of the land.

“As a province, we welcome you here as you do your investigations, we will support you with every piece of detail you would require,” said Sen Mavima. “We want a report that is competent and taste the vision of our President.

“His Excellency has a vision of a better Zimbabwe come 2030 and we cannot achieve that when some people are living in houses with no water and sewer reticulation systems.”