Zanu-PF youth kingpin's attempted hijack of Bulawayo building fails

A politically charged attempt by Milton Maposa, a self-styled Zanu-PF youth figure, to forcibly reclaim a building from which he was legally evicted has failed, sparking outrage over the abuse of political affiliations to defy court orders.

Maposa, previously operating Faith Christian College from 44 Herbert Chitepo Street, had been evicted following a legal dispute with prominent businessman and farmer Mr. Nkosana Ncube over unpaid rent and municipal obligations reportedly exceeding US$50,000.

The eviction, sanctioned by a court ruling in April 2025, led Maposa to officially surrender the property. In a letter dated April 29, 2025, addressed to Mr. Clifford S. Ncube, the legal representative for Mr. Ncube, Maposa admitted to breaching his lease agreement and confessed to unlawfully subletting the premises to Touch of Faith Church and Faith in God Ministries without the landlord's consent.

However, in a dramatic turn of events on May 7, 2025, Maposa allegedly returned to the property with a group of youths clad in Zanu-PF regalia, chanting party slogans and wielding a separate set of keys. According to eyewitnesses, the group "toy-toyed" through the building and threatened Mr. Clifford S. Ncube with violence if he did not allow them to re-occupy the premises. In a further act of defiance, the group reportedly locked security officers from Manifest Security Company inside the building.

This act of political theatrics and intimidation has been widely condemned as a blatant violation of the court order and an abuse of party symbols to mask illegal behavior.

"This is not just about property," a legal observer noted. "This is a dangerous escalation - weaponizing political identity to override the law and intimidate citizens."

The incident has reignited fears about the misuse of Zanu-PF imagery to carry out unlawful acts and has placed the party under renewed pressure to distance itself from individuals who tarnish its image through lawless conduct.

"The regalia and slogans are not shields against the law," said a civic leader in Bulawayo. "What Maposa did was criminal, and invoking Zanu-PF's name does not grant him immunity."

The owners of the property have since warned the public not to engage with any school or church activities purporting to operate at the site. "There is no longer any legitimate institution functioning at 44 Herbert Chitepo Street," they emphasized.

Calls are now growing for Zanu-PF to publicly disown Maposa and for law enforcement to take action to protect the integrity of the court system.

As the legal process continues, Milton Maposa has become a symbol of impunity and political abuse, raising troubling questions about the intersection of law, politics, and property rights in Zimbabwe.

Will the ruling party condemn his actions, or will silence signal complicity?

That remains to be seen.