Anti-corruption officials arrested former Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni and ex-acting town clerk Josephine Ncube for alleged abuse of power. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission confirmed their arrests yesterday. They reportedly changed a land deal between Harare and Shelter Zimbabwe that cost the city about $20 million. Both face criminal charges for their actions.
The city signed an agreement with Shelter Zimbabwe in 2013 to develop 1,500 residential stands on 657 hectares in the Tafara and Mabvuku areas. The company agreed to build infrastructure before the council would sell the stands and pay them back. But in 2017, Manyenyeni and Ncube changed the terms to let Shelter Zimbabwe sell undeveloped land directly.
Shelter Zimbabwe sold these unserviced stands but never developed the land or gave money to the local government as required. The former officials must appear today at Harare Magistrates Court to answer these serious allegations. Their case highlights ongoing issues with land deals in the capital city.
The city signed an agreement with Shelter Zimbabwe in 2013 to develop 1,500 residential stands on 657 hectares in the Tafara and Mabvuku areas. The company agreed to build infrastructure before the council would sell the stands and pay them back. But in 2017, Manyenyeni and Ncube changed the terms to let Shelter Zimbabwe sell undeveloped land directly.
Shelter Zimbabwe sold these unserviced stands but never developed the land or gave money to the local government as required. The former officials must appear today at Harare Magistrates Court to answer these serious allegations. Their case highlights ongoing issues with land deals in the capital city.
