Harare — Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has issued a seven-day ultimatum to illegal settlers at Gilstone Farm, warning that police and military reinforcements will be deployed to enforce evictions if the directive is not complied with.

Speaking during a visit to the farm in Seke, Mashonaland East Province on Thursday, Garwe ordered all illegal occupants to vacate the state land by Wednesday next week.

“Today is Thursday, I am giving you until Wednesday to vacate,” Garwe said. “If you want to try us and do not vacate, you will face the consequences. Pack and go back from where you came from.”

The minister emphasised that the land is state property already allocated to war veterans.

“President regularised Caledonia and Harare south, and that should not be misconstrued, as no regularisation programmes will be adopted in future,” Garwe said. “This is state land, and only a few war veterans are known to be here. We don’t tolerate illegal settlements.”

The minister specifically named individuals or groups identified as Mabhiza and Magaya, directing them to stay away from the farm.

“Mabhiza and Magaya, down with you,” Garwe said. “If I hear that they have set foot in this place, I will personally put on my combat and come here.”

Garwe instructed police to enforce the directive, adding that if reinforcements were needed, soldiers and police details from Harare would be deployed to ensure compliance.

All agricultural land in Zimbabwe is vested in the state under Section 290 of the Constitution and can only be occupied through a lease or other agreement with the state under Section 291. The Constitution obligates the state to provide security of tenure to all persons lawfully occupying agricultural land under Section 292.

Land is allocated under two main models: Model A1 for smallholder farmers, targeting households from congested communal areas and urban areas, with each household receiving residential land, cropping land, and communal grazing; and Model A2 for medium to large-scale commercial farming under 99-year leases.

Land allocation is based on quotas, with war veterans receiving a 20 percent quota, youths 20 percent, and other groups prioritised. Ten percent is reserved for special cases. Applications are processed at no cost through district or provincial lands offices.

In October 2024, Cabinet adopted a new land tenure regime to issue title deeds to resettled farmers, with all A1 and A2 beneficiaries expected to receive title deeds by June 30, 2026.

The government has intensified enforcement against illegal settlements. In 2024, police arrested 3,775 suspects in an operation against land barons and illegal occupations, with 985 convictions recorded.