Mansion in Bulawayo's upmarket suburb set for demolition

A sprawling 13-room mansion under construction in Bulawayo's upscale Kumalo suburb is facing imminent demolition after a city audit uncovered decades of irregular ownership transfers, missing documents, and alleged attempts by municipal officials to conceal the property from official records.

The house, located at 15 Pingstone Road, was built up to roof level without a single approved building plan. The property's ownership has been mired in dispute for nearly 40 years, involving at least four claimants. The issue came to light when Raphael Masuku, claiming to be one of the owners, alerted the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) that construction was taking place on what he believed was his property.

Council auditors launched a full investigation, uncovering a tangled history dating back to 1987. Records show the stand was initially purchased by the late Mrs Girlie Malunga, who died 10 months later. Ownership then passed to her husband, Joseph Bingo Malunga, who reportedly failed to pay the full purchase price and did not develop the stand within the required timeframes.

The subsequent history includes a series of questionable transfers, handwritten claims, missing files, and contradictory statements, culminating in a 2022 High Court-ordered transfer to the estate of the late Thabani Mguni. Auditors noted that while the Town Planning Department's files referenced two approved building plans, neither could be located. A 2002 council receipt for a "copy of Agreement of Sale" issued to one Mr Mhlanga was also flagged as suspicious, with indications that the associated document may have been removed.

Adding to the confusion, Stanley Mpofu claimed to have purchased the stand from Malunga in 2008, partially built a slab, and later sold it to Mguni in 2012, though auditors were unable to verify his statements. Masuku also claimed to have bought the stand in 2016, a claim dismissed by the audit as unsupported. The late Mguni's widow, Eukellia Mguni, provided evidence that she obtained a High Court order affirming her late husband's ownership before selling the stand to Fanwell Zouma, who is reportedly behind the current construction.

The audit sharply criticised BCC for selling the stand in 1987 for $3,540, receiving only a quarter of the payment, and taking no action to recover the balance, suggesting possible concealment of the property. It further accused the council's Housing and Community Services Department of providing inaccurate ownership information, compromising the reliability of city processes and exposing the municipality to potential litigation.

During council discussions, councillors questioned why BCC did not challenge the 2023 High Court ruling recognising Mrs Mguni's claims. They emphasised that allowing irregular transfers to stand could encourage others to bypass official procedures.

The committee concluded unanimously that the mansion should be demolished due to the extensive history of irregularities. Councillors said the demolition is necessary to uphold council procedures, protect the city's legal interests, and send a clear message that unlawful construction and improper land allocations will not be tolerated. Formal procedures are expected to be completed before demolition commences.