Two Shurugwi villagers have been convicted and fined after unlawfully allocating themselves portions of State land reserved for communal grazing in Shurugwi North Constituency.
According to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, Francis Madungwe and Nomsa Munyimi were arrested on allegations of illegally occupying and allocating themselves State land designated for grazing purposes in Gwanza South.
“Two Shurugwi villagers, Francis Madungwe and Nomsa Munyimi, have been arrested on allegations of allocating themselves and illegally occupying State land designated for grazing purposes in Gwanza South, Shurugwi North Constituency,” ZACC said in a statement.
The anti-corruption body said investigations established that the two acted without the authority of the relevant government ministry.
“Allegations are that sometime in 2022, the accused persons subdivided grazing land and unlawfully allocated themselves some portions without the authority of the Ministry of Lands, and Rural Development.”
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The pair appeared before the Shurugwi Magistrates Court on May 29, 2026, where they were found guilty.
“The accused persons were arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. They appeared at Shurugwi Magistrates Court on May 29 and were convicted and each sentenced to six months' imprisonment.”
However, the custodial sentences were wholly suspended, with the court opting to impose financial penalties instead.
“The custodial sentence was wholly suspended on condition that each accused person pays a fine of US$400 through the Clerk of Court.”
The case comes amid increasing scrutiny of illegal land occupations and unauthorised land allocations in various parts of the country, where disputes over State, communal and agricultural land have periodically emerged.
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