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ZACC probes City of Harare official
41 mins ago |
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The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has confirmed receiving a complaint against a senior City of Harare official accused of issuing a temporary permit to a Methodist Church in breach of a High Court order.
The complaint, filed on 12 November 2025 by Kantor & Immerman Legal Practitioners on behalf of Borrowdale residents, alleges that Acting Director of Urban Planning, Mr. Mugocha, granted a temporary permit to the United Methodist Church Borrowdale on 9 June 2025. This permit was issued despite the church's failure to comply with conditions outlined in a 2017 Town Planning Permit, which lapsed in 2019.
The legal team pointed out that the permit was issued three days after a High Court judgment prohibited the church from conducting services at Number 9 Doveton Road, Borrowdale, without fulfilling requirements from the Director of Health and the Chief Fire Officer. Kantor & Immerman argued that approving the permit on the same day it was applied for raised serious concerns about procedural propriety.
The lawyers contend that Mr. Mugocha's actions undermined the High Court ruling and amounted to criminal abuse of duty under Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. They further noted that the church had not met any of the conditions attached to the 2017 permit and had never applied for an extension, meaning the permit lapsed automatically.
ZACC spokesperson Simiso Mlevu confirmed the complaint had been received and is currently undergoing preliminary assessment. The law firm also copied the complaint to the Harare Town Clerk, urging internal action against the official.
Borrowdale residents, who have opposed the church's operations since 2016, cited concerns including noise, congestion, and lack of valid operating licences. The High Court had previously ruled that the 2017 Town Planning Permit did not authorize the church to operate and mandated additional clearances from health and fire authorities.
City of Harare officials have yet to comment. ZACC is expected to decide whether the matter will proceed to a full investigation after the preliminary assessment is completed.
The complaint, filed on 12 November 2025 by Kantor & Immerman Legal Practitioners on behalf of Borrowdale residents, alleges that Acting Director of Urban Planning, Mr. Mugocha, granted a temporary permit to the United Methodist Church Borrowdale on 9 June 2025. This permit was issued despite the church's failure to comply with conditions outlined in a 2017 Town Planning Permit, which lapsed in 2019.
The legal team pointed out that the permit was issued three days after a High Court judgment prohibited the church from conducting services at Number 9 Doveton Road, Borrowdale, without fulfilling requirements from the Director of Health and the Chief Fire Officer. Kantor & Immerman argued that approving the permit on the same day it was applied for raised serious concerns about procedural propriety.
The lawyers contend that Mr. Mugocha's actions undermined the High Court ruling and amounted to criminal abuse of duty under Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. They further noted that the church had not met any of the conditions attached to the 2017 permit and had never applied for an extension, meaning the permit lapsed automatically.
ZACC spokesperson Simiso Mlevu confirmed the complaint had been received and is currently undergoing preliminary assessment. The law firm also copied the complaint to the Harare Town Clerk, urging internal action against the official.
Borrowdale residents, who have opposed the church's operations since 2016, cited concerns including noise, congestion, and lack of valid operating licences. The High Court had previously ruled that the 2017 Town Planning Permit did not authorize the church to operate and mandated additional clearances from health and fire authorities.
City of Harare officials have yet to comment. ZACC is expected to decide whether the matter will proceed to a full investigation after the preliminary assessment is completed.
Source - Newsday
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