Senior official in the dock over State land
- Category: Real Estate
- By Dion Kajokoto
A senior Government official in Manicaland province was on Thursday arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on allegations of selling State land, misrepresenting to a buyer that it was hers.
According to a statement released by ZACC, Joice Munamati, the Manicaland Provincial Civil Registrar, is accused of deceiving Calvin Ziki into believing she was the owner of a 32.5-hectare plot in Subdivision 22 of Wallacedale in Odzi by selling it to him for US$15,000 through fraud.
"Mrs. Joice Munamati, the Provincial Civil Registrar of Manicaland, has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for the fraudulent sale of State land," the agency announced.
It further stated, "Munamati is accused of fraud as defined by section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification Reform) Act."
The government issued a warning last Wednesday to everyone—including traditional leaders—against selling State land, stating that anyone caught breaking the law will face legal action.
The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development's Permanent Secretary, Obert Jiri, issued the warning against the backdrop of an increasing trend by village chiefs to sell state land, particularly in community lands surrounding Harare Metropolitan.
He added that all community land was categorized as State land held in trust and that traditional leaders were not permitted to sell State land.
Many people have been detained throughout the years for selling State land; some of them have hidden behind the ruling party.
Police detained Fredrick Mabamba, a late businessman and former Chitungwiza Ward 25 councilor, in 2015 on suspicion of selling home seekers both State and council land.
In October 2022, a Harare magistrate sentenced three land barons—States Simusanza, Ranson Chingwara, and Tidings Keta—to a year in prison on fraud charges for their illicit sale of state land intended for a new primary school in Budiriro.
The trio was arrested by ZACC.
In October 2020, Naboth Manyengera, a Zanu PF councillor in Hatcliffe,was also arrested on allegations of illegally selling State land in the area. – New Ziana.
