Zim GBC News | Harare Correspondent
HARARE – In a fiery press conference on Friday, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe launched a sharp rebuttal against corruption allegations, denying any involvement in land grabs and instead pointing a direct finger at Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, whom he accused of engineering a fraudulent land swap that has ensnared senior city officials.
The dramatic allegations follow the recent arrests of Mayor Mafume, Deputy Mayor Rosemary Muronda, and former Harare South MP Shadreck Mashayamombe in connection with a contentious land deal. The case involves companies allegedly linked to the mayor’s associates.
Minister Garwe dismissed claims labeling him a “land baron,” stating he has no need to manipulate state land.
“I do not dupe the state when it comes to land. I have enough land,” Garwe asserted.
“The Mayor and his team are the real land barons, especially Mashayamombe. He is a well-known land baron.”
He further accused Mayor Mafume of authorizing a deal so flawed it resulted in the city council effectively taking legal action against itself.
“They reported the Council, not knowing it would come back to haunt them,” Garwe said, referring to the controversial land swap arrangement.
The scandal took an unexpected turn last week when the initial complainant, Mavis Java, withdrew her charges.
Despite this, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has indicated the investigation remains active, with a senior official emphasizing that the state can still proceed with the case.
Minister Garwe revealed he had previously held meetings with Mayor Mafume to warn him about the irregularities before the matter was escalated to ZACC. According to Garwe, the outcome was predictable:
“The arrests were inevitable.”
The Minister also disclosed that Mafume and his associates are connected to four companies currently under scrutiny in the ongoing probe.
As the investigation continues, the allegations have intensified scrutiny on land allocation and governance within the Harare City Council, highlighting deep-seated concerns over corruption and accountability in urban development.
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