Former Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni and Ex-Town Clerk Arrested Over US$20 Million Land Scandal
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested former Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni and former Acting Town Clerk Josephine Ncube on charges of criminal abuse of office linked to a controversial land deal.
ZACC Confirms Arrest
ZACC claims the two unlawfully changed the terms of a land development agreement between the City of Harare and Shelter Zimbabwe, a move that allegedly cost the city around US$20 million in potential revenue.
“ZACC arrested former Harare City Council mayor Bernard Manyenyeni & former acting town clerk Josephine Ncube on charges of criminal abuse of office in a land development case that cost the city an estimated US$20 million. They will appear in Harare Magistrates’ Court on April 16,” ZACC said.
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Why Former Harare Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni Was Arrested
Back in 2013, the city entered into a deal with Shelter Zimbabwe to service 1,500 residential stands on 657 hectares of land in Tafara and Mabvuku. The arrangement was that Shelter Zimbabwe would install infrastructure like roads and water, while the council would sell the stands and later reimburse the company.
But in 2017, Manyenyeni and Ncube allegedly changed that agreement. According to ZACC, they gave Shelter Zimbabwe the green light to sell unserviced stands — a major deviation from the original plan.
The result? Shelter Zimbabwe allegedly pocketed the money from the sales, failed to develop the land as promised, and didn’t pay the city what it was due.
Both Manyenyeni and Ncube are expected to appear in the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 16 April. Manyenyeni will be represented by prominent lawyer and constitutional expert, Professor Lovemore Madhuku.
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