THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has launched the Sabhuku land deals campaign targeted at addressing corruption in the land sector and illegal parcelling of land in rural areas.
The campaign trail that kicked off in Hurungwe also covered four other districts including Makonde, Chegutu, Zvimba and Mhondoro in Mashonaland West province.
The campaign is being spearheaded by Zacc’s Public Education Unit.
Zacc senior public education officer Charity Mudavanhu said there was a positive response from stakeholders that included traditional chiefs, headmen, officials from district co-ordinating committees, Environment Management Agency (EMA), Lands, Local Government, Education ministries, Agritex and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, among others.
“These awareness campaigns are aimed at educating the community about the dangers of corruption and promote transparency and accountability in the distribution and allocation of land in all districts including Hurungwe where they were kicked off,” she said.
Hurungwe assistant district development co-ordinator Friend Ngirazi said such public meetings would yield positive results, ironing out conflict between government departments and traditional leaders.
Hurungwe East legislator Chenjerai Kangausaru expressed gratitude to Zacc for organising anti-corruption awareness campaigns that expose illegal parcelling of land.
“I am deeply concerned about how some headmen are parcelling out land without involving other stakeholders including officials from EMA, Agritex and even local councillors.
“A place called Nyangombe is an example where local leadership including the chief and myself as MP are not aware of land deals,” Kangausaru said.
He also expressed disappointment at overpopulation in the Mazhaka area within his constituency.
“There are too many people and the land is now inadequate. These cases may fuel land deals which are not correct,” Kangausaru said.
The meetings saw some traditional leaders explaining the right way of acquiring communal land, residential stands, farming and mining land.