ZACC Arrests Manicaland Official “Joice Munamati” For Alleged State Land Sale Scam
A high-ranking official from Manicaland province was apprehended by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on Thursday for purportedly engaging in the illicit sale of government-owned land.
The accusation against Joice Munamati, the Manicaland Provincial Civil Registrar, revolves around the sale of a 32.5-hectare parcel of land, Subdivision 22 of Wallacedale in Odzi, to Calvin Ziki for $15,000. It’s alleged that Munamati falsely claimed ownership of the land to Ziki.
ZACC released a statement confirming Munamati’s arrest and specifying that she faces charges of fraud under Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification Reform) Act.
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Just a day before Munamati’s arrest, the government issued a stern warning, cautioning against the illegal sale of state-owned land, extending the warning even to traditional leaders.
Obert Jiri, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development emphasized that selling state land, especially by traditional leaders, is prohibited as all communal land is classified as state land held in trust.
Numerous incidents over the years have highlighted the issue of individuals, sometimes with political connections, illegally selling state land.
In 2015, Fredrick Mabamba, a businessman and former Chitungwiza Ward 25 councillor, was arrested for allegedly selling both state and council-owned land.
Similarly, in October 2022, three land speculators, States Simusanza, Ranson Chingwara, and Tidings Keta, were sentenced to 12 months in prison for fraudulently selling state land reserved for a new primary school in Budiriro.
These individuals were apprehended by ZACC.
Another case in October 2020 involved Naboth Manyengera, a Zanu PF councillor in Hatcliffe, who was arrested for unlawfully selling state land in the area.
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