By Sharleen Mohammed

Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe has issued a stern warning to illegal land barons operating at Gilstone Farm, declaring that government will not tolerate the unlawful subdivision of productive agricultural land for residential settlements.

Speaking during a meeting with farmers and residents at the farm, Garwe said land allocated under government programmes was intended to strengthen agricultural production and national food security not to fuel illegal housing schemes driven by corruption and profiteering.

“Respect the law, respect the President’s land policy,” Garwe said, as he condemned individuals accused of illegally parceling out farming land into residential stands.

Authorities have since ordered illegal occupants to vacate the land within seven days.

Government officials say several affected farmers were legally allocated the land and had already invested heavily in farming operations, with some securing bank loans to improve productivity and expand agricultural activities.

Officials also warned that illegal invasions were disrupting farming operations, damaging infrastructure and undermining investments aimed at boosting the country’s agricultural output.

The crackdown comes at a time when Zimbabwe is intensifying efforts to modernize agriculture through mechanization programmes, irrigation expansion, dam construction and other initiatives designed to improve food security and uplift rural livelihoods.

However, the rise of illegal land allocations and alleged corruption involving land barons continues to threaten progress in some farming communities.

Garwe said government remains committed to protecting productive land and ensuring that those found violating land laws face decisive action.

“We cannot allow lawlessness to derail national development and food security programmes,” he said.

The intervention at Gilstone Farm forms part of broader government efforts to safeguard agricultural land as Zimbabwe pushes for increased production and rural transformation under its national development agenda.