HARARE – A land dispute is brewing in Harare as the STUHM Residents Association, representing current and former Members of Parliament, has formally challenged the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, over the status of their residential lease agreements.
In a letter dated May 8, 2025, the association has demanded urgent clarification following reports suggesting their allocated land may have been secretly reallocated.
The land is situated along Shamva Road, a short distance from Nyamapanda Road.
The STUHM site was intended as a housing scheme for legislators in recognition of their national service. According to the Residents Association, its members lawfully acquired the stands, were issued lease agreements by the Ministry, and even had their individual plots demarcated.
A list of nearly one hundred individuals, including former Norton MP Temba Mliswa, opposition figures once prominent like Morgan Komichi and Elias Mudzuri, and ambassador Priscilla Misihayirambwi, comprises some of those involved.
In 2019, the government, acting through the Ministries of Agriculture and Local Government, allegedly sold low-density residential stands in the STUHM area of Goromonzi District to legislators from the eighth Parliament for US$1,942.
The Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Ministry under then-Minister July Moyo received, processed, and approved all applications on May 8, 2019, with lease agreements finalized by May 15 of the same year.
Recent information received by the association, however, paints a different picture.
They claim Ministry officials have indicated that no development is recognised on the site, the land might have been given to an unidentified third party with title deeds in progress, and the Ministry of Lands is now allegedly asserting ownership and designating its own beneficiaries.
This development has sparked outrage among the affected parliamentarians, who argue that these reports undermine their legitimate expectations based on formal assurances and legal instruments issued by the Local Government Ministry.
The STUHM Residents Association stated that no formal communication has been received regarding any cancellation or suspension of their leasehold rights.
“These reports represent a fundamental threat to the rights and legitimate expectations of our members, all of whom have relied on the formal assurances of your Ministry and the legal instruments issued under its authority.
“No formal notification has ever been issued cancelling, suspending, or revoking their leasehold rights,” the association stated.
The legislators have demanded a written confirmation within seven days that their lease agreements remain valid, no lawful reallocation has occurred, and no title deeds are being processed for other parties.
They also seek clarity on whether the Local Government Ministry still holds jurisdiction over the land.
Should any reallocation or title processing have taken place, the association has demanded full disclosure of the beneficiaries, the legal basis for such actions, and all relevant documentation.
The association has also put the Registrar of Deeds on notice, formally objecting to the registration of any title deeds for the land in favor of any other entity until the matter is resolved.
“We further place the Registrar of Deeds on formal notice that the STUHM Residents Association objects to the registration of any title deeds relating to this land in favour of any other person or entity.
“The Registrar is accordingly warned not to process or register any such deeds until this matter has been fully and lawfully resolved,” read part of the letter.
“In the event that the present uncertainty is not resolved timeously and lawfully, we shall have no option but to escalate the matter, including seeking urgent judicial relief and lodging a formal complaint with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, on the basis that the actions being contemplated or already taken may constitute violations of our members’ rights to property, equal protection of the law, and due process.”
Interestingly, investigations at the Goromonzi District Council, as indicated in the provided documents, reportedly show no record of double allocation or transfer of ownership, seemingly contradicting the reports received by the Residents Association.
Council officials also reportedly dismissed claims that the Defense Ministry had seized the land.
Reports suggest the STUHM land is now earmarked for a high-end residential development allegedly linked to prominent businessman Billy Rautenbach.
