Bongani Ndlovu
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has confirmed the arrest of Chief Mphini of Bulilima district in Matabeleland South on charges of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
Chief Mphini, also known as Jabulani Ndiweni, was arrested alongside village heads Howard Nkomo and Madoja Mafa. The trio is accused of illegally allocating residential and agricultural land to land seekers without the authority of the Bulilima Rural District Council.
ZACC Commissioner Kindness Paradza said investigations revealed that the alleged offences occurred between 2020 and 2025. During this period, Chief Mphini is said to have unprocedurally allocated stands ranging from 750 square metres to 7 500 square metres to at least 29 beneficiaries.
“It is further alleged that land seekers were charged between US$2 000 and US$2 500 per stand,” said Commissioner Paradza.
However, of the 29 beneficiaries interviewed, only two admitted to making payments, and no receipts or proof of payment were produced.
Investigations also established that Chief Mphini allegedly allocated five additional stands in connivance with Village Head Mafa and 12 with Village Head Nkomo. Acting independently, Village Head Mafa allegedly allocated one stand, while Nkomo allocated 12 stands without council authority.
ZACC said seven original certificates of household occupancy were recovered from beneficiaries, while three copies were obtained from individuals who claimed to have misplaced the originals.
Further findings indicated duplications in the allocation records, with some spouses listed separately as beneficiaries for a single stand, inflating the number of allocations to 125. Notices from the Bulilima Rural District Council instructing beneficiaries to stop developments on the disputed land were also recovered.
A total of 59 statements were recorded from beneficiaries during the investigation. Some alleged beneficiaries could not be located, and certain stands had no developments.
Commissioner Paradza said the actions of the accused were inconsistent with their legal duties.
“As a Chief, he has no such powers to allocate land in that manner. The same applies to the village heads,” he said.
The trio appeared before the Plumtree Magistrates Court and were remanded to March 30 for plea recording after indicating their intention to plead guilty.
Online Reporter