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ZACC arrests three council officials over illegal land deal
10 Jun 2025 at 17:18hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested three senior officials from the Rusape Town Council in connection with a controversial and allegedly unlawful land lease deal involving a proposed solar energy project.
The arrested officials are Togarepi Nerwande, who was Acting Town Secretary and Director of Human Capital and Administration at the time of the alleged offence; Morris Tekwa, the Director of Housing, Health and Community Services; and Arnold Mandizvidza Kutoka, a former Council Engineer. They face charges of criminal abuse of duty as public officers, in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
In a statement released Monday, ZACC alleged that the trio conspired to unlawfully revive and facilitate a land lease agreement with Texas Energy Pvt Ltd — a private firm that had its initial 2018 application to build a solar power plant in the Tsanzaguru area rejected by the Ministry of Local Government due to land constraints and the site's residential zoning status.
Despite this rejection, between September and December 2022, the accused allegedly pushed through a lease deal without the requisite ministerial approvals or public consultations.
"In a glaring breach, Nerwande signed a 99-year lease agreement with Texas Energy on 28 December 2022, misleadingly categorising the land as ‘open space' when in fact it was designated for residential development," ZACC stated.
The Commission's investigations further revealed that the trio deliberately bypassed key legal procedures such as the issuance of public notices and the acquisition of ministerial consent - both mandatory when converting land use classifications under Zimbabwean law.
The unlawful lease agreement remained under the radar for several months, raising questions about internal accountability mechanisms within the Rusape Town Council.
"This case represents a serious betrayal of public trust. By bypassing established protocols, the officials undermined urban planning processes and potentially jeopardised residential development in Tsanzaguru," said ZACC.
The three accused are expected to appear at the Mutare Magistrates Court on Tuesday for their initial remand hearing. If convicted, they face substantial penalties, including custodial sentences.
ZACC reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and warned that the net is tightening on corrupt officials. "No one is above the law," the Commission said.
The arrested officials are Togarepi Nerwande, who was Acting Town Secretary and Director of Human Capital and Administration at the time of the alleged offence; Morris Tekwa, the Director of Housing, Health and Community Services; and Arnold Mandizvidza Kutoka, a former Council Engineer. They face charges of criminal abuse of duty as public officers, in terms of Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
In a statement released Monday, ZACC alleged that the trio conspired to unlawfully revive and facilitate a land lease agreement with Texas Energy Pvt Ltd — a private firm that had its initial 2018 application to build a solar power plant in the Tsanzaguru area rejected by the Ministry of Local Government due to land constraints and the site's residential zoning status.
Despite this rejection, between September and December 2022, the accused allegedly pushed through a lease deal without the requisite ministerial approvals or public consultations.
"In a glaring breach, Nerwande signed a 99-year lease agreement with Texas Energy on 28 December 2022, misleadingly categorising the land as ‘open space' when in fact it was designated for residential development," ZACC stated.
The Commission's investigations further revealed that the trio deliberately bypassed key legal procedures such as the issuance of public notices and the acquisition of ministerial consent - both mandatory when converting land use classifications under Zimbabwean law.
The unlawful lease agreement remained under the radar for several months, raising questions about internal accountability mechanisms within the Rusape Town Council.
"This case represents a serious betrayal of public trust. By bypassing established protocols, the officials undermined urban planning processes and potentially jeopardised residential development in Tsanzaguru," said ZACC.
The three accused are expected to appear at the Mutare Magistrates Court on Tuesday for their initial remand hearing. If convicted, they face substantial penalties, including custodial sentences.
ZACC reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on corruption and warned that the net is tightening on corrupt officials. "No one is above the law," the Commission said.
Source - New Ziana
