Antony Chawagarira
HARARE – The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has given all defaulting beneficiaries of Urban State Land a final three-month grace period to regularise their obligations or risk losing their allocations.
In a press statement dated July 21, 2026, the Ministry said it had noted with concern that some individuals, housing cooperatives, private developers, companies and institutions allocated Urban State Land had failed to meet conditions attached to their allocations.
The Ministry said several beneficiaries had failed to pay the purchase price for allocated land and settle outstanding balances, pay statutory charges due to Government, surrender and transfer commonage stands and other land due to Government, and fulfil other obligations contained in their allocation documents.
It warned that failure to comply undermines orderly urban development, prejudices Government interests and delays the provision of public infrastructure such as schools, health facilities, recreational amenities and other essential public services.
The ministry has now granted a final three-month compliance period from the date of publication of the notice for all defaulting allottees to:
•Settle all outstanding payments due to Government.
•Remit all commonage stands and any other land due to Government in line with allocation conditions.
•Fulfil all outstanding contractual and statutory obligations.
The Ministry warned that after the expiry of the three-month period, Government will institute legal and administrative measures against defaulters, including cancellation of land allocations, repossession of allocated land without further notice where permitted by law, recovery of outstanding amounts owed to Government and any other remedies available under the law.
Affected beneficiaries have been urged to immediately engage the Department of Urban State Land Management to facilitate the regularisation of their obligations within the stipulated period.
Secretary for Local Government and Public Works, Dr John Basera, said Government remains committed to ensuring transparency, accountability and the efficient administration of Urban State Land in the national interest.
