AGRICULTURAL LAND SETTLEMENT ACT [CHAPTER 20:01] (as amended) PART III CONTROL AND OCCUPATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND 20 Minister may require Board to carry out investigation In order to ensure that in the interests of Zimbabwe agricultural land is not being occupied adversely in regard to the land or the neighbouring community the Minister may by notice in writing, direct the Board to investigate all the farms or any farm within any area to ascertain whether or not the farms are or farm is, as the case may be, being so occupied. 21 Duty of Board to carry out investigations and report On receipt of a notice in terms of section twenty the Board shall carry out as expeditiously as possible any investigation directed by the notice and shall report to the Minister thereon. 22 Minister may give order to owner or lessee (1) Subject to section twenty-four, after considering any report in terms of section twenty-one, the Minister may, by order in writing, served on the owner and, if there is a lessee, on the lessee of the farm concerned direct the owner and the lessee, if any— (a) not to permit any more than such number of persons, whether employees or otherwise, as is specified in the order; or (b) to permit only such class of persons as is specified in the order; to occupy the farm and may in such order direct the owner or the lessee or both of them to take measures as may be specified in the order to ensure compliance therewith. (2) Any owner or lessee of a farm who contravenes or fails to comply with an order served on him in terms of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level nine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.10 23 Minister may give order to occupiers (1) Subject to section twenty-four, where the Minister makes an order in terms of section twenty-two he may, in addition, by order in the Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in the district where the farm concerned is situated, direct such persons or classes of persons as are specified or described in the order to cease to occupy the farm concerned within such period as may be specified in the order and that— (a) no more than such number of persons; or (b) no persons other than such class as is specified in the order; shall occupy the farm until such time as the order is revoked or varied in terms of section twenty-five (2) Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with an order in terms of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.11 24 Minister to give notice of proposal to make order (1) Before making an order in terms of section twenty-two or twenty-three the Minister shall give notice of his intention to make such order— (a) to the owner of the farm concerned and, if there is a lessee, to the lessee; and (b) to the persons or classes of persons who will be required to cease occupying the farm concerned; and shall afford such persons the opportunity of making representations in writing in relation to the proposal. March 2004 13