ONE of the oldest Real Estate Agent in Zimbabwe Guest & Tanner Managing Director Cletus Chakoma Wednesday urged the government to promulgate policies that curb the operations of land barons, claiming this may suffocate bogus land developers from issuing people illegal settlements.
Chakoma’s response comes after the Harare council last week demolished nearly 20 houses in Belvedere Ridgeview, citing that the land was illegally acquired from barons. In a statement after the demolitions, the council said the blitz was an ongoing process and would reach other areas in the capital.
But in an interview with 263 times, Chakoma said land barons are a creation of politicians. He urged the public to deal with legitimate estate agencies, and shun away from building houses on illegal settlements.
“What is affecting the real estate is the government policies. You see, at the moment we have stories of land barons. This is a creation of politicians coming up with land barons who claim to be land developers, so we urge the public to deal with registered agencies,” he said.
The Guest & Tanner boss said there should be established financial support banks in Zimbabwe that finance projects and developments for the country to do away with land barons.
“The problem we are mostly facing is there is no financing support compared to other countries where there are banks that finance projects and developments. People cannot access financing from established banks, because all things are just deals. If they were establishments, we could not have these situations of land barons,” said Chakoma.
Meanwhile, in an interview with state media Tuesday, Minister of Local Government Daniel Garwe distanced the government from the Belvedere demolitions, laying blame on the council. He added that although citizens have the right to housing, they should not build houses on illegal settlements.
“We condemn that action, and yesterday we directed the mayor and town clerk to stop the demolitions. We distance ourselves from, and the central government distances itself from, such behavior. We have nothing to do with that.
“The new dispensation values all citizens and respects the constitution, which says housing is a fundamental right. People have the right to housing, but that said, we must not take the law into our own hands and say, I can build a house wherever I want.
“The law will still visit you. We do not want to take advantage of certain developments, and people must not start building recklessly,” he said.
