KEY POINTS
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Harare City Councillor Blessing Duma is accused of pressuring officials to approve dubious land allocations and supporting land barons in illegal deals.
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Residents and council sources report invasions on protected land, including grave sites and recreational areas, allegedly facilitated by Duma.
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Mayor Jacob Mafume and civic groups have condemned the alleged misconduct and called for greater transparency and reform in land governance.
Harare City Councillor Blessing Duma is once again under the spotlight for alleged misconduct involving land deals, as accusations mount that he is protecting powerful land barons operating illegally in the capital.
According to internal council documents and multiple sources within the Harare City Council (HCC), Duma is implicated in pressuring senior officials to approve questionable land allocations.
The allegations, if proven, further tarnish Duma’s public image, which has already been marred by past scandals. Just last year, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) investigated him for extortion-related charges involving land disputes.
Duma, who served as the chairperson of the HCC audit committee, reportedly coerced the city’s Director of Housing and Community Services, Admore Nhekairo, into signing allocation letters for two unserviced residential stands located in the suburb of Mabelreign. The named beneficiaries of these controversial allocations are Walter Chigwereva and Danai Dzawanda.
“Duma threatened Nhekairo with unspecified consequences from the audit committee if he didn’t sign the documents,” a council source revealed. “He is clearly being used by a cartel of land barons to apply pressure on city officials and push through illegal developments.”
Allegations link Duma to unserviced stand deals
Beyond the Mabelreign transactions, Duma is also accused of enabling land invasions in the high-density suburbs of Mabvuku and Tafara. Local residents have raised alarms, claiming that some of the targeted sites include graveyards and land previously designated for recreational or public use.
One of the council’s principal allocation officers, Edgar Dzehonye, has reportedly also been targeted by the same group of land barons using political influence to bypass regulatory checks.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume responded to the growing controversy by issuing a strong warning to all city councillors. “Councillors must not involve themselves in nefarious activities,” Mafume said. “Their role is to facilitate fairness and equity in service delivery and land management, not to undermine it.”
Newsday reports that despite repeated attempts to get his side of the story, Councillor Duma did not respond to calls or messages seeking comment on the allegations.
Urban land management in Harare has long been plagued by corruption, with illegal land sales, politically motivated invasions, and lack of enforcement creating widespread public frustration.
The emergence of informal settlements on unsuitable land has also heightened tensions between residents, officials, and politicians accused of profiteering.
Civil society organizations have urged authorities to take decisive action. “This is not just about one councillor—it reflects a wider culture of impunity where political connections shield those involved in unlawful land transactions,” said a representative from a local urban governance watchdog.
The situation underscores the need for land allocation reforms, better oversight mechanisms, and transparency in council operations. As Harare continues to grapple with a severe housing shortage, residents say they are losing faith in the ability of public officials to act in the city’s best interest.
If the allegations against Duma are confirmed, legal proceedings and disciplinary actions could follow. Meanwhile, council meetings are expected to address the scandal in coming sessions, as pressure mounts from both within and outside government circles to restore integrity to the city’s housing and land management processes.
