Minister Garwe Threatens Legal Action Over Land-Grab Claims

Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe has angrily dismissed allegations linking him to a multi-million-dollar land-grabbing scheme, threatening to sue Alpha Media Holdings after its publications ran a story based on a leaked letter. The letter reportedly instructed the City of Harare to proceed with a controversial land-swap deal, an order that was never implemented. Garwe denied the claims, calling the journalism "malicious" and politically motivated.

Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe has angrily dismissed allegations linking him to a multi-million-dollar land-grabbing scheme, threatening legal action against media houses that published the claims.

Addressing journalists in Harare on Monday, Garwe said he would sue Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) after its publications, The Standard and NewsDay, ran a story based on a leaked letter dated 23 July 2025. In the letter, Garwe instructed the City of Harare to proceed with a controversial land-swap deal between Logara Properties and the municipality involving land in Newlands.

The directive was never implemented. Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, who is among the alleged beneficiaries of the disputed land, declined to act on the instruction.

Last week, Mafume was questioned by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), while his deputy, Rosemary Muronda, and former Harare South MP Shadreck Mashayamombe were arrested. Muronda and Mashayamombe were later granted bail of US$500 each at the Harare Magistrates’ Court.

Reports allege that Garwe was central to the dispute after his ministry issued instructions ordering the transfer of the Newlands land to Logara Properties and directing the City of Harare to disregard a High Court order. The ruling had confirmed that the land belonged to four companies that had initiated the layout plan.

Garwe reportedly argued that Logara Properties had demonstrated the capacity to carry out infrastructure development worth more than US$70 million, insisting the city would benefit from the arrangement. Mafume rejected the proposal, citing the High Court ruling, which had already determined ownership.

According to court documents, the four companies involved are Clean Burn Energy, owned by Mashayamombe; Gemdale Investments, owned by a Chinese businessman identified as Giene; Diexodos Marketing, linked to Muronda; and Aspire Elite Incorporated, linked to Mafume.

Responding to the allegations, Garwe lashed out at the media.

“They (media) should have communicated with the Ministry. They should have at least come to us and say, ‘somebody has reported you, we want to know your side of the story, can you verify if these are facts or falsehoods?’ They did not do that; this kind of journalism is malicious, treacherous, and cannot be allowed to continue in this country. We cannot continue to allow people to do that.”

He added: “We have sued the Standard and the Newsday for publishing falsehoods and hot air misinforming the public in trying to create a perception that the Minister is the biggest land baron in the land. I have no business taking land that is not mine. I have enough land of my own, why should I do that?”

Garwe also alleged that the story was politically motivated and driven by his rivals.

Garwe, who is the Zanu PF Mashonaland East provincial chairperson, is a vocal supporter of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s proposed term extension to 2030. Source -NewZimbabwe