Staff Reporter
Former Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni and ex-acting town clerk Josephine Ncube were arrested yesterday on charges of criminal abuse of duty, reigniting calls for systemic reforms at the crisis-ridden Harare City Council (HCC).
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) confirmed the arrests, linking the duo to a 2017 land deal amendment that allegedly defrauded the city of US$20 million in revenue.
Allegations are that in 2013, the HCC partnered with Shelter Zimbabwe to develop 1,500 residential stands on 657 hectares in Tafara, Mabvuku.
Under the original agreement, the council would allocate and sell serviced stands, reimbursing Shelter Zimbabwe after infrastructure development.
However, in 2017, Manyenyeni and Ncube allegedly unlawfully revised the contract, authorising Shelter Zimbabwe to sell unserviced stands directly.
The company reportedly sold the plots but failed to develop the land or remit proceeds to the council, leaving thousands of residents stranded without basic services and depriving the city of critical revenue.
Governance analysts argue this scandal is symptomatic of entrenched corruption at HCC.
Dr. Tinashe Chigwada, a local Government policy expert, stated, “This isn’t an isolated incident. The council’s governance failures date back over a decade, with recurring reports of land mismanagement, tender fraud, and financial opacity. The entire institution is compromised.”
Another analyst, Ms. Hilda Moyo, urged drastic measures, stating that, "the HCC has repeatedly proven incapable of self-correction. Dissolving the council and placing it under temporary Government administration may be the only way to audit its operations, prosecute offenders, and restore public trust.”
Calls for dissolution echo growing frustration among residents.
Harare’s crumbling infrastructure, water shortages, and illegal land sales have long been blamed on mismanagement and alleged collusion between officials and private entities.
“This US$20 million loss is just the tip of the iceberg. A forensic audit would likely reveal billions syphoned through similar schemes," added Moyo.
Manyenyeni and Ncube are expected to appear at Harare Magistrates Court today. If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison.
Shelter Zimbabwe representatives could not be reached for comment.
As legal proceedings unfold, pressure mounts for structural overhauls. For Harare’s long-suffering citizens, the arrests mark a tentative step toward accountability—but experts insist only systemic dismantling of HCC’s “culture of impunity” will bring lasting change.
