Village head denies allegations of selling communal land
A village head in Igusi, Nyamandlovu, has denied allegations that he is selling residential stands intended for local families, following complaints from some villagers.
Black News 
Residents in Village 8A and 8B accuse Village Head Zwelani Dumani of allocating land to outsiders without consulting the community.
One villager alleged that home seekers were being charged between R5,000 and R6,000 for stands.
“We wake up to find people clearing land in what used to be grazing areas,” the villager said. “There is no consultation with the committee or the wider community.”
Messages seen by CITE allegedly suggest that some prospective home seekers were asked to pay consultation fees of R1 000 to the village head and a further R1 000 to the headman.
Other residents claim that some individuals, including Zimbabweans based in South Africa, lost money and groceries in the process.
“I know someone who paid R5 000 and even provided groceries, but did not get the stand,” another villager said, adding that committee members were sometimes excluded from discussions.
Villagers say the area most affected is known locally as “eMagetsini”. They argue that communal land should prioritise people born in the area or those formally introduced and accepted by the community.
“The people who should be settled here are our children. These new settlers are unknown to us,” one resident said.
Village head rejects claims
Dumani denied selling land and described the allegations as false.
“In this area, we allocate land to children from this community. Villagers are the ones who bring their friends,” he said.
He added that he was aware of the country’s laws governing land allocation.
“I do not sell land. I have never sold land. I know the law,” he said.
Dumani also dismissed claims that outsiders were being settled in the area.
“We were allocated this land in 1980, and part of it was reserved for our children. Some people have been given land but have not yet started building because they are in South Africa raising money. What is being said is not true,” he said.
Legal framework
Under Zimbabwe’s Constitution, traditional leaders are recognised as custodians of communal land. However, their authority is regulated by Acts of Parliament, including the Traditional Leaders Act, which prohibits the unlawful disposal of communal land.
