News / National
Zimbabwe govt official in US$1,5m land scandal
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A senior official from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Everest Nyamadzawo, appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court yesterday facing allegations of extorting over US$1.5 million from a development company director. Nyamadzawo, aged 39, was remanded to February 12, 2024, on US$100 bail by Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa.
Allegations of Extortion
The State claims that in 2008, Cabletron Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd acquired land in the Mabelreign, Strathaven, and Sentosa areas from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for a housing development project valued at US$1,537,676.88. Some of the land in question, however, was privately owned.
The ministry allegedly canceled the lease agreements for the privately-owned land, promising to compensate the company with State-owned land. However, the compensation process was delayed, prompting Cabletron Enterprises to lodge a complaint with the then Minister of Local Government in 2021.
Investigations later revealed that the ministry owed the company a total of 30.773 hectares of State-owned land. The Minister reportedly approved the compensation plan, and a report was forwarded to the Department of State Lands for further implementation.
The Role of Nyamadzawo
Nyamadzawo is said to have played a key role in the compensation process. On February 3, 2022, he allegedly generated an internal memo seeking authority from the minister to allocate land to the company in the Mabelreign/Sentosa area, which was approved. The company subsequently identified State-owned open spaces for the compensation.
From November 2021 to March 2022, Cabletron Enterprises submitted multiple layout plans to Nyamadzawo for processing. However, the company's progress began to slow down as Nyamadzawo and his alleged accomplices reportedly delayed the paperwork. He is accused of withholding a title survey request and introducing personal requests into the process.
Personal Gain
It is further alleged that Nyamadzawo provided personal details of his spouse, Florence Mhlanga, to Cabletron Enterprises, instructing the company to allocate a portion of the stands to her. These actions are believed to have caused significant delays, from 2021 to the present, in the compensation process, disadvantaging Cabletron Enterprises in the long run.
The case has drawn attention due to the scale of the alleged extortion and the involvement of a senior public official in the mishandling of public land compensation. Nyamadzawo's bail conditions include reporting to the CID Commercial Crimes Unit once a week, surrendering his passport, and refraining from interfering with State witnesses. His next court appearance is set for February 2024, pending the finalization of investigations.
Allegations of Extortion
The State claims that in 2008, Cabletron Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd acquired land in the Mabelreign, Strathaven, and Sentosa areas from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works for a housing development project valued at US$1,537,676.88. Some of the land in question, however, was privately owned.
The ministry allegedly canceled the lease agreements for the privately-owned land, promising to compensate the company with State-owned land. However, the compensation process was delayed, prompting Cabletron Enterprises to lodge a complaint with the then Minister of Local Government in 2021.
Investigations later revealed that the ministry owed the company a total of 30.773 hectares of State-owned land. The Minister reportedly approved the compensation plan, and a report was forwarded to the Department of State Lands for further implementation.
The Role of Nyamadzawo
From November 2021 to March 2022, Cabletron Enterprises submitted multiple layout plans to Nyamadzawo for processing. However, the company's progress began to slow down as Nyamadzawo and his alleged accomplices reportedly delayed the paperwork. He is accused of withholding a title survey request and introducing personal requests into the process.
Personal Gain
It is further alleged that Nyamadzawo provided personal details of his spouse, Florence Mhlanga, to Cabletron Enterprises, instructing the company to allocate a portion of the stands to her. These actions are believed to have caused significant delays, from 2021 to the present, in the compensation process, disadvantaging Cabletron Enterprises in the long run.
The case has drawn attention due to the scale of the alleged extortion and the involvement of a senior public official in the mishandling of public land compensation. Nyamadzawo's bail conditions include reporting to the CID Commercial Crimes Unit once a week, surrendering his passport, and refraining from interfering with State witnesses. His next court appearance is set for February 2024, pending the finalization of investigations.
Source - newsday
