Harare, Zimbabwe | In a move widely viewed as a desperate attempt to silence critical reporting, controversial businessman and alleged land baron Kenneth Raydon Sharpe has approached the courts to seek a gag order against The Harare Times.
According to recent filings on the Judicial Service Commission’s Integrated Electronic Case Management System (IECMS), Sharpe is seeking an interdict to block the online publication from reporting on any matters involving him or his company, WestProp Holdings.
The legal onslaught comes at a time when Sharpe’s flagship project, Pokugara Estate in the affluent suburb of Borrowdale, is embroiled in a fresh storm involving panicked homeowners and allegations of illegal land acquisition.
The friction escalated following reports suggesting that homes within the premium gated community might be demolished due to a lack of proper legal documentation and irregular establishment of the estate.
In a scathing letter dated 28 October 2025, the Pokugara Residents Association chairperson, Ian Ginio Tafireyi, demanded immediate clarification from WestProp.
“I am writing to you in my capacity as the Residents Chairperson of Pokugara Estate… Our attention has been drawn to a highly disturbing publication by Harare Times, which alleges that our homes are under threat of demolition due to the irregular and illegal establishment of the estate,” the letter reads.
Tafireyi expressed the residents’ shock, noting that many homeowners invested millions of United States dollars under the impression that the development was fully compliant with the law.
Widespread Anxiety in Borrowdale
The residents’ concerns were further ignited by a viral Facebook video titled “Land baron Kenneth Raydon Sharpe’s houses face demolition,” which has reached tens of thousands of viewers. Tafireyi highlighted that the widespread nature of these allegations has created “unacceptable” levels of anxiety.
The association has given Sharpe and WestProp a 48-hour ultimatum to provide a detailed report ensuring the security of their investments, threatening collective legal action if the response is unsatisfactory.
Sharpe’s reputation as a “land baron” is not a new phenomenon in Zimbabwean discourse. He was explicitly cited as such in the Special Investigations Committee Report on City of Harare’s Land Sales, Leases and Exchanges (2004–2009).
The committee, chaired by former Ward 7 Councilor Worship Dumba, alleged that Sharpe benefited from several pieces of land illegally through deals with the City of Harare.
Critics argue that the current lawsuit against The Harare Times is a “SLAPP” suit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) designed to intimidate journalists and prevent the public from scrutinizing high-stakes real estate deals that affect hundreds of Zimbabwean investors.
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