By Loyd Matare
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has dismissed claims linking him to controversial land negotiations involving Harare City Council and private developer Logara Properties, saying the matter has been misrepresented.
Addressing the press in Harare yesterday, Garwe said the land in question is privately owned by Logara and that his ministry was not involved in any clandestine dealings.
“These 17 hectares are owned by a company called Logara. It’s a private company.
“They then approached the City of Harare in 2019 and said, we want to do a development of townhouses overlooking the small stream that is between Forestry Commission and that piece of land,” Garwe said.
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The issue has drawn public attention following the arrest of Harare deputy mayor Rosemary Muronda and former Harare South MP Shadreck Mashayamombe.
The two were arrested after social media personality Marvis Java reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) that she had been sold a non-existent commercial stand in Newlands.
They were granted US$500 bail last Friday, and Java has since withdrawn the charges.
Garwe said Logara initially approached the Forestry Commission in 2019 with plans to develop townhouses overlooking a small stream separating Forestry Commission land and Logara’s property, a project that later involved the City of Harare.
He added that the proposal also included construction of a new road linking the ED Mnangagwa Road roundabout to Borrowdale Road to ease traffic congestion along Churchill Road.
“Council in principle agreed, but the matter now lies with council for final approval,” Garwe said.
According to the minister, discussions around the project involved 12 senior government and council officials, during which four separate companies were allegedly created.
He stressed that any acquisition of council land required community consultation, which he said was conducted.
Garwe also disclosed that Logara proposed to develop an extra portion of land at no cost to the State in exchange for a 2,5-hectare parcel to ensure uniform development.
“We are going to construct another highway, which means he didn’t have a road to follow.
“We will not ask for payment from the State authorities.
“It will be compensation for the 2,5 hectares that we want them to surrender to us, so that we have a uniform development. This has been understood,” he said.
