Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
MUTARE-BASED land developer and former Destiny of Afrika Network (DANET) administrator, Wilson Masokowere, was arrested, and detained at Mutare Central Police Station on Wednesday night over allegations of stealing trust property valued at nearly US$2 million.
Former DANET treasurer, Themba Sauramba, was also arrested in connection with the same case, according to information obtained by The Manica Post.
Police had not officially confirmed the arrests by the time of going to print. However, sources familiar with the matter said the case, recorded under reference CR 188/07/2026, involves two counts of alleged theft of trust funds.
The first count relates to the alleged unlawful withdrawal of about US$189 000 from a DANET CBZ Bank account.
The second concerns a further US$1,8 million in alleged trust property, bringing the total value under investigation to almost US$2 million.
The arrests mark a new development in the long-running dispute surrounding the administration of DANET, a housing trust that has for years been dogged by internal conflicts and allegations of mismanagement in Manicaland.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, said yesterday he had not yet received details of the matter when contacted for comment.
The latest developments come barely a month after Masokowere suffered two major legal setbacks in an ongoing battle over the leadership and control of DANET, an organisation that administers housing projects involving thousands of members across Manicaland.
In July, the High Court dismissed Masokowere’s application to rescind an earlier order barring him from accessing DANET offices in Mutare.
In a judgment delivered on July 1, 2026, High Court Judge Justice Joel Mambara ruled that Masokowere had failed to establish sufficient grounds to overturn a default judgment previously granted by Justice Isaac Manzunzu.
Justice Manzunzu’s order interdicted Masokowere from entering or approaching DANET business premises in Mutare and ordered him to pay legal costs.
Dismissing the rescission application, Justice Mambara ruled that the evidence before the court did not demonstrate that Masokowere remained a serving trustee under the organisation’s trust deed.
“The dismissal decision remains extant. His purported trusteeship is not shown to be current,” ruled Justice Mambara.
The court also rejected allegations that Destiny of Afrika Network and the Destiny of Afrika Network National Housing Development Trust had fraudulently obtained the earlier order.
Justice Mambara further found that Masokowere had failed to provide a reasonable explanation for not opposing the original application that resulted in the default judgment.
“The applicant has not given a reasonable explanation for the default. He has not demonstrated a bona fide defence with prospects of success. The discretion to rescind cannot therefore be exercised in his favour,” the judge ruled.
The court also dismissed arguments that the urgent chamber application which resulted in the interdict had been improperly placed before the ordinary court roll after initially being struck off the urgent roll.
Justice Mambara further held that disciplinary proceedings which led to Masokowere’s dismissal remained legally valid because they had never been set aside by a competent court.
Adding to his legal difficulties, Masokowere also lost an appeal before the Supreme Court after failing to comply with procedural requirements relating to the payment of security for costs.
The Registrar of the Supreme Court subsequently declared the appeal abandoned in terms of Rule 61 of the Supreme Court Rules, 2025.
The legal disputes stem from a protracted leadership wrangle over the administration of DANET’s housing schemes in Manicaland.
Earlier this year, DANET founder Reverend Obediah Musindo accused Masokowere of refusing to surrender the organisation’s Mutare offices despite a High Court order. Musindo alleged that the continued occupation of the premises had frustrated efforts to implement court directives, conduct audits and restore normal operations within the organisation.
Masokowere has consistently maintained that he should not vacate the offices until a proper handover process has been conducted.
He has also challenged his dismissal, arguing that he served as a trustee rather than an employee and therefore could not lawfully be subjected to disciplinary proceedings under an employment code.
