By Patience Gondo
TRADITIONAL leaders and councillors in Beitbridge are concerned about residents bypassing land allocation procedures, a development they say is fuelling disputes in communities.
The matter was discussed on Friday during a meeting attended by traditional leaders, councillors and officials from the Beitbridge Rural District Council in Beitbridge.
Kilibone Mbedzi, chief executive officer of the rural district council, said residents seeking land must first present their request at the village assembly before the application moves through other structures.
She said the process begins at the village assembly. The application is then submitted to the Village Development Committee (VIDCo). It moves to the Ward Development Committee (WADCo) before going to the ward assembly. The final approval is done by the rural district council.
Councillor Oscar Chiromo said the procedures are no longer being followed.
He said the situation is creating serious problems among residents.
Chiromo said some self-appointed traditional leaders, especially village heads and headmen are allocating and selling land in gazetted areas.
He cited land near the airdrome close to Lutumba where people have been allocated stands and built houses without approval.
District environmental officer Nompumelelo Chigwinya said failure to follow the correct procedures leads to disputes within communities.
She said some families later discover houses built on family graves, farming land or grazing areas.
“Community members must know about a project before it starts. Not the other way around where only the chief knows,” she said.
Chigwinya said the process should start at the village assembly before reaching the rural district council.
She said following the procedures also helps prevent settlements in wetlands.
District spatial planning officer Tendai Chinhengo also said residents do not have the right to sell or transfer land.
“The land belongs to the State. We are only there to protect it,” he said.
Chinhengo said residents who relocate must start the process again to be allocated land legally.
Mbedzi said selling land privately also creates security risks within communities.
She said the community must know and agree on who settles in their area.
Chinhengo said following planning structures helps the council provide services such as roads, water and electricity.
He cited Ward 15 where some houses are collapsing after residents settled in waterways.
Traditional leader Chief Mathibe said headmen are sometimes left out during land allocation processes.
He said some projects start while traditional leaders are unaware of where the approval was granted.
Chinhengo futher said residents should not change land use without consulting the rural district council.
He said permits can be withdrawn by the council and traditional leaders if residents fail to follow the procedures.