Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
A property developer selected by the Harare City Council to work on 85 residential stands in Westlea alleges that she is being threatened, harassed and falsely accused of corruption.
However, the person she accused denies the allegations.
Chimwarome Legal Practice, acting for Cabox Investments development company and director Mrs Gertrude Dumba have written to Mr Gilbert Bgwende accusing him of threatening Mrs Dumba and giving the impression that he has links to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and top army officers.
“You have been engaged in various conduct that is injurious to the good name and reputation of our client, but even more nefarious, is your conduct of presenting yourself as a law enforcement official or possessing the ability to influence the country’s law enforcement authorities.
“We are advised that you have been stating on diverse occasions and to different audiences, that our client had been engaged in corrupt transactions to obtain land from the City of Harare,’’ reads the letter.
The lawyers said at least two named people had been contacted in an effort to get them to lodge complaints with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission against Mrs Dumba.
“In attempting to coerce the said individuals to lodge complaints, we are advised that you have stated that investigations at the Zimbabwe-Anti Corruption Commission are at an advanced stage, and that only a complainant is outstanding to complete the docket.”
The lawyers said Mr Bgwende was once spotted at the City of Harare Offices at Remembrance Drive in Mbare, where he was involved in an altercation with another person who he accused of not supporting him.
Mr Bgwende met a person at Divaris Shopping Centre to update him on the progress of their ‘plans’.
Mrs Dumba said: “I feel threatened I am a woman who has followed all the council procedures to obtain the land. I now fear for my life.”
Contacted for comment, Mr Bgwende confirmed receiving the letter but said he was surprised by the contents which he termed malicious.
“I am actually shocked over the issue. I just saw a letter from Cabox. As far as I am concerned, I never ever interacted with anyone. I am actually going to my lawyer to give him the letter. I don’t even know where all this is coming from,” he said.
A police report regarding the block of Westlea stands was lodged by Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango on October 23, 2023 confirming that Cabox was the rightful owner.
“I refer to the above subject matter and your letter dated 18 October 2023. Please be advised as follows there is no double allocation on the above stated piece of land. Council tentatively resolved to partner Cabox Investments Pvt Ltd on 16 March 2020 (item 17 of the Education, Health, Housing and Community Services and Licensing Committee minutes dated 16th March 2020 and Adopted by Council).
“In the above resolution, an earlier decision to allocate the same piece of land to beneficiaries on the Housing Waiting List was rescinded in favour of entering into a partnership with Cabox Investments for the development of eighty five (85) unserviced residential stands,” he said.
Eng Chisango said at the time the resolution was passed in favour of partnering Cabox Investments (Pvt) Ltd, the stands in question had not yet been allocated to any beneficiary.
He said housing pay schemes are only formed after allocation of land to individuals by the City of Harare.
“At the moment, there is no such allocation on the same piece of land to any individual. Therefore, the City of Harare has not established any housing pay scheme on the land in question for there to be allegations of double allocation,” he said.
According to Harare’s Education Health, Housing and Community Services and Licensing Committee minutes dated March 16, 2020 the council resolved to recommend that the town clerk be granted authority to negotiate a memorandum of agreement with Cabox Investments (Pvt) Ltd.
