Mugabe family bars church from building close to its residency

President Robert Mugabe and his wife, Grace are in a messy land row with the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Borrowdale Brooke as the couple has barred the religious institution to build a church near their residence.

The church was several years ago allocated a stand which is 8 stands away from Mugabe's private residency.

The land under dispute is Stand 280 Borrowdale Brooke Road but the church has been barred from constructing.

The reason is the church would compromise the First Families security.

This has led to the church's Glenara North district to worship at a community hall.

Mugabe is a catholic.

"The conference is not allowed to construct the church. We were warned not to build the church because the stand is located in a high security zone. Special clearance is needed to build" said a church member.

However, a private school is under construction three stands from Mugabe's property.

The school, Borrowdale Brooke Academy is owned by Ian Henney and currently has one double story structure.

Mugabe's spokesperson, George Charamba said "the president's residence whether State House, in Zvimba or Borrowdale remains a security issue.

"There is no way structures can be built willy nilly around such designated areas," said Charamba.