By Heather Buzuzi
Mutare – 10 June 2025 — The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested three Rusape Town Council officials over allegations of criminal abuse of duty stemming from a controversial land deal involving a solar power project.
The suspects, Togarepi Nerwande (Director of Human Capital & Administration and Acting Town Secretary at the time), Morris Tekwa (Director of Housing, Health and Community Services), and Arnold Mandizvidza Kutoka (former Council Engineer), were taken into custody on 9 June 2025.
ZACC alleges that between September and December 2022, the trio unlawfully revived and processed a previously rejected proposal by Texas Energy Pvt Ltd to establish a solar power plant in Tsanzaguru, Rusape. The Ministry of Local Government had turned down the project in 2018, citing inadequate land and the area’s residential zoning.
Despite this, Nerwande reportedly signed a 99-year lease agreement with Texas Energy on 28 December 2022, falsely categorizing the land as “open space” suitable for development. Investigators say the accused sidestepped mandatory legal procedures, including public notification and ministerial approval for land-use changes.
The three are facing charges under Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23], which criminalizes abuse of duty by public officers.
They are expected to appear for initial remand at the Mutare Magistrate Court today.
ZACC says investigations into possible collusion and additional breaches are ongoing.