Top Tweets for #CommunalLand

THERE IS NO INDEPENDENCE & MEANINGFUL LAND RIGHTS WITHOUT OWNERSHIP AND TITLE. The communal lands act is draconian and colonial. Most Zimbabweans are just occupiers of the land not its owners. Ownership is more than occupation .This sad situation must be addressed immediately. No citizen should endure the heartache of losing their home. It’s unjust for the state to overlook years of investment in building a home, only to demolish it later. Land belongs to everyone.Dignity is an inalienable right and every citizen’s God-given and hereditary entitlement. Land is a gift from God. The recent displacements and destruction of property run foul of the law and violate several provisions of the Constitution, including: a)Section 71 – Property Rights b)Section 68 – Administrative Justice c)Section 51 – Dignity d) Section 74 – Freedom from Arbitrary Eviction The law governing communal land ‘erroneously’ vests all land in the President. The Minister has other powers delegated to him regarding communal displacements. The law allows the President to make declarations that affect the rights and interests of citizens living in communal land. The President can declare that it is no longer communal land. He is under no obligation to consult the citizens, to consider their interests or to account to them. This must and will change.Citizens must be empowered to have a say in matters affecting them through land displacements. The provisions for compensation when communal land is set aside or when the President makes a declaration which removes the citizens from communal lands are grossly inadequate and inconsistent with the right to property provided for in the constitution. We must address this urgently by: -Issuing Title Deeds: Securing title deeds provides citizens with legal protection and ensures their land is their security. Title deeds to resettled farmers and communal lands. -Reviewing the Communal Lands Act: We must reassess outdated legislation to protect citizens' land rights and prevent unjust and unmerited displacement. -Establishing an Accessible Land Registry Database: A transparent database ensures fair and equitable land ownership, free from manipulation or corruption. -Depoliticizing Land Allocation: Land ownership is a fundamental right, accessible to all without bias or partisan political influence. -Introducing land use planning and utilization model and mechanism overseen designated district planner on behalf of the government. -No abuse of state power on land. -Protecting Communities from Homelessness: Displacement should involve community consultations, with stakeholders adequately rehomed and compensated. -Whereas Investment is key and welcome, Investors must not just come to extract and go. Communities must be the anchor and key beneficiaries out of any investment in their area. Local authorities, local leadership and communities must be part of any investment negotiation. -In circumstances where people have settled on a particular land and have been in occupation for a couple of years, authorities must have the moral duty to consider regularization as a first option. The current evictions where helpless households are given 48 hours eviction orders is both unacceptable, cruel, heartless and inhumane. Matters of national interest and development are absolutely vital and therefore above partisan politics. #GovernanceReform #ForEveryone