Three Rusape Council Officials Nabbed Over Suspici...

Three Rusape Council Officials Nabbed Over Suspicious Solar Project Land Deal

Zim Now Writer

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested three senior Rusape Town Council officials in connection with a controversial and allegedly illegal land lease deal involving a proposed solar energy project.

Those arrested are Togarepi Nerwande, who was the Acting Town Secretary and Director of Human Capital and Administration at the time, Morris Tekwa, Director of Housing, Health and Community Services, and former Council Engineer Arnold Mandizvidza Kutoka. The trio is facing charges of criminal abuse of office under Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

ZACC said the officials colluded to unlawfully revive a previously rejected application by Texas Energy Pvt Ltd, which had sought land in the Tsanzaguru area of Rusape in 2018 to set up a solar power plant. The Ministry of Local Government had dismissed the proposal at the time, citing limited land availability and the area’s zoning for residential use.

However, between September and December 2022, the three are alleged to have resuscitated the application without following legally required procedures. These include obtaining ministerial approval and consulting the public—both mandatory when changing land use designation.

One of the most serious violations, according to ZACC, came on December 28, 2022, when Nerwande signed a 99-year lease agreement with Texas Energy. The land was misrepresented as “open space,” when in fact it was designated for housing development.

Investigations indicate the officials bypassed urban planning regulations and statutory protocols, effectively invalidating the lease. The unauthorized deal has raised alarm over how it went undetected for months.

“This case represents a serious betrayal of public trust. By bypassing established protocols, the officials undermined urban planning processes and potentially jeopardized residential development in Tsanzaguru,” ZACC said in a statement.

The three are scheduled to appear at the Mutare Magistrate Court on Tuesday for an initial remand hearing. If found guilty, they face severe penalties, including possible jail time.

ZACC emphasized that the arrests highlight its continued efforts to combat corruption at all levels of government.
“No one is above the law,” the Commission said, reaffirming its commitment to accountability and transparency in public service.