Brian Rungano Temba
Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities has begun a sensitisation and awareness campaign to enlighten unsuspecting citizens of the dangers of dealing with unscrupulous land barons.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities Engineer Joy Makumbe said this awareness campaign will be running in the print, electronic media and all electronic platforms.
“Innocent home seekers have been fleeced of their hard earned cash by land barons,” said Eng Makumbe, reminiscent of the Chitungwiza and Budiriro houses that were demolished on court ruling.
She also gave hints that prospective homebuyers must follow to stay safe from victimization by con-artists and land barons.
When buying a residential stand from any developer one must look out for a proof of land ownership of the land in question.
Buyers must also request for the approved layout plan which should be stamped by the Department of Physical Planning.
“Sale of unserviced land is prohibited. The land must be planned and approved, properly serviced with water, sewer, energy and roads,” added Eng. Makumbe.
All stands must have an engineering design that will be approved by the respective local authoruty.
An approved Environmental Impact Assessment Reports that will assure that Environmental Management Agency and other authorities will not come and demolish their houses on the basis of building on wetlands is also required.
“The country witnessed some flash flooding in some of the wetlands and natural ecosystem has been inadvertently disturbed,” she added.
Tenets of the campaign also include will touch on Environmental damage that is caused by construction of houses on wetlands, rivers basins and stream banks.
Engineer Makumbe said the invasion of land or change of reserved land for social amenities such as schools, clinical, recreational, facilities, road servitude’s and way-leaves is illegal.
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