Garwe threatens to sue media over land-grab allegations

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has angrily dismissed allegations linking him to a multi-million-dollar land-grabbing scheme, threatening legal action against media houses that published the claims.

Addressing journalists in Harare on Monday, Garwe said he would sue Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) following reports published by The Standard and NewsDay based on a leaked letter dated July 23, 2025. In the letter, Garwe instructed the City of Harare to proceed with a controversial land-swap deal between Logara Properties and the municipality involving land in the upmarket Newlands area.

Garwe insisted the directive was never implemented, noting that Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume declined to act on the instruction. Mafume, who is among the alleged beneficiaries of the disputed land, cited a High Court ruling that had already determined ownership of the land.

The land saga has since drawn the attention of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC). Last week, Mafume was questioned by the anti-graft body, while his deputy, Rosemary Muronda, and former Harare South MP Shadreck Mashayamombe were arrested. The two were later granted bail of US$500 each at the Harare Magistrates' Court.

According to reports, Garwe has been placed at the centre of the dispute after his ministry allegedly issued instructions ordering the transfer of the Newlands land to Logara Properties and directing the City of Harare to disregard a High Court order. The ruling had confirmed that the land belonged to four companies that had already initiated a layout plan.

Garwe is reported to have argued that Logara Properties had demonstrated the capacity to undertake infrastructure development worth more than US$70 million, insisting the city would benefit from the proposed arrangement. However, Mafume rejected the proposal, saying the matter had already been settled by the courts.

Court documents identify the four companies as Clean Burn Energy, owned by Mashayamombe; Gemdale Investments, owned by a Chinese businessman identified as Giene; Diexodos Marketing, linked to Muronda; and Aspire Elite Incorporated, linked to Mafume.

Responding to the allegations, Garwe lashed out at the media, accusing journalists of acting unprofessionally and maliciously.

"They (the media) should have communicated with the Ministry. They should have at least come to us and say, ‘somebody has reported you, we want to know your side of the story,'" Garwe said. "They did not do that. This kind of journalism is malicious, treacherous, and cannot be allowed to continue in this country."

He said legal proceedings against The Standard and NewsDay were already under way.

"We have sued The Standard and NewsDay for publishing falsehoods and hot air, misinforming the public in trying to create a perception that the Minister is the biggest land baron in the land," Garwe said. "I have no business taking land that is not mine. I have enough land of my own — why should I do that?"

Garwe also claimed the story was politically motivated and driven by his rivals.

The minister, who is Zanu PF's Mashonaland East provincial chairperson, is a vocal supporter of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's proposed extension of his rule beyond the constitutional 2028 limit to 2030.