Arcadia squatters receive land-ownership papers ahead of Christmas

The Ministry of Housing and Water has begun issuing land-ownership documents to residents of the Arcadia (Mocha) squatting area, advancing a government push to regularise informal settlements.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) distributed Allocation Letters and Agreements of Sale to eligible occupants during a two-day processing exercise on November 27–28, following months of field assessments, community engagement and verification work.

The exercise forms part of Operation Clear-Up, a national programme aimed at transitioning households in informal settlements into legally recognised, planned communities. Arcadia, occupied informally for about a decade, experienced a rise in squatting between 2015 and 2020. Formalisation work began in 2024 after the completion of groundwork and data collection, CH&PA said.

Survey work concluded in early 2025, providing the mapping data required for land allocation. Of 104 lots with structures, 68 are occupied, and 36 households have so far met eligibility criteria for allocation and Agreements of Sale.

Beneficiary Jocelyn Ambrose said the process brought “clarity and stability” for her family, crediting ongoing CH&PA support during assessments and verification stages.

The Ministry said the Arcadia distributions are part of a wider effort to strengthen land tenure in areas deemed suitable for regularisation, reduce land insecurity, and expand access to utilities and community services.

CH&PA said processing will continue as additional households satisfy the requirements, adding that the agency remains committed to a transparent allocation process.