THE Manyame Rural District Council (RDC) has issued a strong warning against the illegal occupation and sale of land in the Seke Communal Area and surrounding peri-urban farms, saying bogus co-operatives and land barons are defrauding unsuspecting home-seekers using forged documents.
The warning comes amid a surge in illegal settlements and unauthorised land transactions across several areas under the council's jurisdiction, prompting authorities to tighten enforcement and clarify the legal process for acquiring communal land.
Manyame RDC chief executive Farirayi Guta raised the alarm in a public notice, expressing concern over the mushrooming of illegal structures on farms including Bracemer, Kimcote, Gilston, Dunnottar and Longlands.
Other affected areas include Murisa Rural Service Centre and villages such as Madamombe, Majaya, Chakahwata, Bwoni and Mutodzwa, among more than 15 locations spread across wards 1 to 19.
The council said it had no ongoing regularisation programme for so-called "sabhuku deals" and said receipts, waiting-list forms and enforcement orders being issued in Seke Communal Area did not originate from council offices.
“No person, company or co-operative has been authorised to take payment and or issue receipts on behalf of council,” the statement read.
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Guta urged members of the public to pay only at council head office in Beatrice or its sub-office in Dema and Guzha/Chikwanha.
The council also clarified that officials serving enforcement and prohibition orders under the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act do not ask for payment.
“One should just comply with the orders and restore the occupied land to its original state,” Guta said.
For prospective settlers, the council outlined a 10-step process that begins with obtaining clearance from a village head, convening a village assembly and submitting supporting documentation before undergoing verification by council, the Environmental Management Agency and Agritex.
If approved by full council, applicants are allocated stands measuring 50 metres by 50 metres and issued with a communal land permit.
However, Guta stressed that the permit does not confer ownership, as communal land remains State land.
Council warned that anyone found engaging in illegal land transactions faces prosecution and the demolition of illegal structures.
It added that development can only take place following the issuance of an approved layout plan, development permit, communal land permit or valid lease agreement.