Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
Seven people who illegally occupied a private developer’s land have been sentenced to five months in prison by Harare Magistrate, Ms Ruth Moyo.
The group was convicted of contravening the Regional, Country, and Town Planning Act, which prohibits unauthorised development.
They are Bamusi Magaisa (56), Philip Kambuto (48), Joel Madziva (45), Isaac Wikiseni (49), Togarepi Mudzudza (46), Shelly Chapwanya (52), and Tatenda Ndlovu (23).
In delivering her judgment, Ms Moyo emphasised the severity of the offence.
“Magaisa and Chapwanya were both allocated land by the developer and knew that Glorious Properties was the sole developer. However, they took advantage of their political positions to alter the development plans.
“This goes against party values and they failed to safeguard the interests of the developer.”
The complainant in the case is the State.
Prosecutors Ms Mandirasa Chigumira and Ms Nomsa Kangara said between April and October 2024, the convicts unlawfully occupied and allocated themselves residential stands at Cloverdale B of Galloway Estate in Goromonzi.
They also erected structures without permits.
Investigations revealed that Glorious Properties had entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to act as the sole developer for Cloverdale B.
The accused persons disrupted development efforts by illegally occupying the land. This caused significant damage to infrastructure, including tarred roads, water pipes, and survey pegs.
During the court’s victim impact assessment, Glorious Properties founder Ms Petronella Kagonye said the company had invested US$15 million in the project, only to suffer substantial financial and infrastructural losses.
“The infrastructure was vandalised, and we now have to start rebuilding,” she said. “We also lost money through court cases filed against us. Personally, this has affected me mentally and physically. My health has been severely impacted.”
