By Rex Mphisa
THE Government has started investigations into Sabhuku Land Deals that saw commercialisation of communal area land near urban areas.
Several corrupt traditional leaders made thousands of dollars through the illegal parcelling out of communal land areas through those deals similar to land deals by other unscrupulous officials from the Ministry of Lands known to have sold resettlement land.
In a letter on Friday, the permanent secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution Engineer T Muguti asked all permanent secretaries in the provinces to gather information on any complaints related to such deals.
“As you may be aware, the country is seized with ‘Sabhuku Deals’ issues bedevilling communities across the country. In this regard, you are being requested to furnish this Office with information on ‘Sabhuku Deals’ affected areas occurring within your Province, on or before the 15th of May 2026,” wrote Muguti
“This information is required in order to stamp out illegal parcelling of land rampant within communities against the dictates of the Constitution, Acts and Statutory Instruments on land ownership and Communal land administration in the country,” he said.
The illegal sale of communal land by traditional headmen (sabhukus)—have severely impacted Zimbabwe by creating widespread housing insecurity, fueling chaotic, unregulated settlements, and eroding trust in rural governance.
These, often illegal, transactions have led to massive financial losses for buyers and government-led demolitions of homes.
Key Impacts of Sabhuku Deals on Zimbabwe has been the destruction of property and financial losses to those given the land.
Thousands have faced eviction and seen homes built with life savings reduced to rubble by government authorities, particularly in areas like Masvingo (Mushandike) and Mashonaland West
These deals have led to a surge in unregulated settlements in peri-urban areas, lacking water, sewage, or proper roads.
While some villagers claim these deals provide “low-cost” housing alternatives to the high costs of formal land, many of these allocations are illegal, with many buyers falling prey to scams where the same piece of land is sold multiple times.