Former Harare Mayor Arrested Over US$20 Million Land Deal Scandal
High-Profile Corruption Case Rocks Zimbabwe
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested former Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni and ex-Acting Town Clerk Josephine Ncube on charges of criminal abuse of duty. The officials allegedly altered a land development agreement with Shelter Zimbabwe, costing the city approximately US$20 million in lost revenue.
Details of the Alleged Scandal
The case stems from a 2013 agreement between the Harare City Council and Shelter Zimbabwe for developing 1,500 residential stands on 657 hectares of land in Tafara, Mabvuku. The original terms required Shelter Zimbabwe to first develop infrastructure before the Council would sell serviced stands and reimburse the developer.
However, in 2017 during Manyenyeni’s mayoral term, the agreement was reportedly amended to allow Shelter Zimbabwe to sell unserviced stands prematurely. Investigators allege the developer then sold properties without completing infrastructure work and failed to remit proceeds to the city.
Wider Corruption Investigation
This case emerges amid broader concerns about corruption at Harare City Council. President Emmerson Mnangagwa established a commission of inquiry last year to investigate council operations since 2017. Preliminary findings reveal systemic issues, including:
- Illegal sale of 10,000 unserviced stands in Mabvuku and Warren Park
- Collusion between officials and developers
- Estimated US$20 million in losses from various schemes
Councillor Blessing Duma, the council’s audit committee chairperson, testified before the commission about these irregularities. The five-member investigative team, led by retired High Court judge Justice Maphios Cheda, continues its work before submitting final recommendations.
Impact on Harare
The scandal highlights ongoing governance challenges in Zimbabwe’s capital, which has struggled with corruption and mismanagement for decades. The case against Manyenyeni and Ncube represents one of the highest-profile corruption prosecutions in recent years involving municipal officials.
As investigations continue, authorities emphasize their commitment to tackling corruption at all levels of government. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for accountability in Zimbabwe’s public sector.