Multi-million-dollar scandal rocks Victoria Falls council

 The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has uncovered a massive corruption scandal involving high-ranking officials at Victoria Falls City Council, including Mayor Tuso Moyo and Town Clerk Ronnie Dube. The investigation, which reveals illegal land deals and fraudulent tenders, has sent shockwaves through the city.

The investigation, disclosed in a ZACC report dated November 4, 2024, suggests that both Moyo and Dube, along with several senior council employees, were engaged in a scheme to illegally allocate land for personal and political gain. According to ZACC intelligence officer B Mapfumo, the council has been operating outside its governing laws and regulations, with corruption rampant at multiple levels.

The scandal allegedly involves a syndicate of councillors and senior employees who orchestrated the illegal distribution of land. One key example is the controversial sale of Stand 8300, where Dube allegedly manipulated the evaluation process to favor Zambezi Properties, a shelf company formed specifically for this transaction. The company was registered on September 15, 2021, well after the council had called for tenders for the stand, raising suspicions of corruption.

Dube is further accused of creating a fraudulent list of names for residential stands, which he allegedly issued to himself, the mayor, and other officials under the pretext of "discretionary allocations." The mayor, Moyo, reportedly received 12 stands, while Dube allegedly took 15 stands. Additionally, some individuals were required to pay Dube's wife to secure eligibility for these plots.

The investigation also uncovered corruption related to a US$4.8 million tender awarded to Highshot Engineering (Pvt) Ltd for road, sewerage, and water reticulation works on the BE100 housing scheme. This tender was allegedly awarded without following proper procurement procedures, and the project was overseen by CCE (Pvt) Ltd, a company that was brought in without proper consultation. A payment of US$157,401 was made to CCE (Pvt) Ltd on the instruction of Dube, further highlighting the scale of the alleged corruption.

Mayor Tuso Moyo has since taken action by suspending Ronnie Dube from his position as town clerk over the allegations. In a letter dated December 2, 2024, Moyo cited multiple complaints of abuse of office and corruption as the reason for Dube's suspension, stating that the town clerk was required to leave council offices immediately.

Despite efforts to reach both Moyo and Dube for comment, neither official was available, with their mobile phones not being answered. ZACC spokesperson Simiso Mlevu also did not respond to inquiries regarding the investigation.

The report, which was sent directly to ZACC's investigative unit, sheds light on the deep-rooted corruption within the Victoria Falls City Council and underscores the urgent need for accountability in local government operations. As the investigation continues, further revelations are expected, with ZACC urging the public to assist in identifying and prosecuting those involved in the scandal.

Source: Multi-million-dollar scandal rocks Victoria Falls council (04/12/2024)

READ MORE:

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (13th October 2025) Furore over Victoria Falls housing stands recall.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (23rd August 2025) Vic Falls residents push for clarity in Town Clerk corruption probe.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (10th July 2025) Victoria Falls Residents Consortium slams opposition-led council over alleged corruption, poor service delivery 

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (6th March 2025) Minister defends Vic Falls Town Clerk, accuses residents’ groups of politics.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (8th December 2024) Government reverses 'unprocedural suspension' of Victoria Falls Town Clerk Ronnie Dube.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (6th December 2024) Public funds being wasted investigating lies, says suspended Vic Falls Town Clerk.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (5th December 2024) Corruption and abuse of office - Victoria Falls Town Clerk and 2024 CEO of the year suspended.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (4th December 2024) Multi-million-dollar scandal rocks Victoria Falls council.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (15th June 2024) Pushback as Victoria Falls council boss clings to power.

See Also:

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (23rd January 2024) Victoria Falls former Mayor Somveli Dhlamini loses appeal against conviction, sentence.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (5th January 2023) Victoria Falls council probe team completes investigations 

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (30th October 2022) Victoria Falls Town Clerk Refuses To Resign Over Corruption Allegations. 

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (7th October 2022) Land scam: Vic Falls Mayor Dhlamini arrested. 

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (11th June 2022) Stands corruption storm in Victoria Falls 

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (27th June 2021) Victoria Falls town clerk reinstated.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (26th June 2021) Vic Falls Town Clerk Ronnie Dube reinstated 

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (20th June 2021) Suspended town clerk gets windfall.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (14th May 2021) Victoria Falls Councillors Accuse Minister July Moyo Of Meddling.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (30th April 2021) Town Clerk Dube suspended.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (14th May 2020) Minister Moyo Settles MDC Factions’ Victoria Falls Mayoral Dispute. 

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (29th February 2020) MDC expels Victoria Falls mayor for defying party directive. 

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (10th February 2020) Victoria Falls mayor arrested.

Vic Falls under fire over irregular land sale

 TOP Victoria Falls City Council officials were this week alleged to have unprocedurally extended payment deadlines for the sale of a US$2,8 million commercial stand to Midlen Investments, which plans to construct a luxurious Arab-themed hotel, the Zimbabwe Independent can exclusively reveal.

Documents gleaned by this newspaper showed that  Victoria Falls City Council on January 8 published a notice for the sale of stand number 1815, which bid was awarded to Midlen at a cost of US$2,8 million.

Terms of the lucrative deal indicate that Midlen was obligated to pay a 30% deposit, amounting to US$840 000 by April 30.

However, investigations by this publication show that the local authority bosses extended the deadline to June 30 without a full council resolution as required.

This was after Midlen had failed to pay its deposit within the required time-frame.

Under such circumstances, as spelt out by local governance dictates, rights awarded to the winning bidder are forfeited if the party fails to meet terms of the agreement.

Subsequently, the second most competitive suitor is given the green light to purchase the property. In the case of the stand in question, the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed leisure giant, Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) came second, with a US$2,5 million bid.

A company called Hillfonic Investments was vying for the same asset, while MJ Air weighed in with US$2,4 million. As documents show, the balance for the purchase of the land would be serviced within 18 to 24 months after the deposit is paid.

“A Call for Expression of Interest (VFCC/S1815/0124) (the CFEOI) to purchase and develop commercial land being Stand 1815 Victoria Falls (the Investment Property) was made by the City of Victoria Falls on the 8th of January 2024 in terms of Section 152 of the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15),” the documents read in part.

“Midlen Investments (Private) Limited (the Company) participated in the CFEOI and was selected as the winning bidder upon adjudication by the City of Victoria Falls.

“The City of Victoria Falls requires a 30% deposit (US$840 011) for land purchase. The

amount is payable strictly in United States dollars and is due by the 30th of April 2024.

“The balance of US$1 960 026 is to be paid over a period yet to be discussed with the City of Victoria Falls. Indications are that it will be paid over a period of 18 to 24 months in equal quarterly instalments. No interest accrues on the balance,” the documents state.

Midlen managing director Ngonidzashe Manjeru told the Independent that his firm was given the extension to settle the deposit to the Vic Falls City Council.

He did not specify whether the extension was granted by the local authority management or by a full council.

“We are on course for the settlement of the purchase price, we applied for extension of time,” he said this week.

“At this stage I think I have given you enough information. We are not privy to such technicalities and council processes.”

The mayor, Prince Thuso declined to comment on how the decision was made.

He told the Independent: “Council is passionate about development and is on a crusade to lure development to the City of Victoria Falls.”

“Midlen Investments won a bid to develop a hotel in Victoria Falls. More details about the development will be made public as the development unfolds.”

Thuso’s responses were addressing questions posed by the Independent focusing on whether the decision to extend the payment deadline was made by management or a full council. This publication also questioned the mayor on whether a due diligence exercise was conducted on the suitability of Midlen.

A source close to the transaction said management acted unilaterally when it gave Midlen the extension.

“As councillors, we are not aware of any extension, unless the extension was given by management without council resolution,” the source said.

“Management officials extended it without seeking council approval.

No item was ever brought to the attention of council or any of its committees for consideration to vary that standing policy of council.

“It is improper. It is not binding. The second best bid should be given the offer. A bid by a leading hotel group in the country came second though it was dismissed.

“Management tends to offer these tenders to companies owned by dubious characters. They shun big corporations because they do not have room to budget for bribes,” the source told the Independent on condition of anonymity.

Town Clerk Ronnie Dube had not responded to questions posed by the Independent at the time of going to print.

A search at the Companies Registry in the capital shows that Midlen was registered in Bulawayo in 2008 under company number 27006.

Outside the purchase price, Manjeru said Midlen would mobilise US$121 432 347 to build a six-star hotel tailored to attract “high end clientele including those of the Muslim religion”.

“Our bid, which was the highest evaluated bid and the winning bid among the five  bidders was as follows: US$2 800 037 for the purchase of the land and US$121 432 347 for the development of the proposed hotel. The total bid value was US$124 234 382,” he said.

“The proposed hotel construction is going to be funded through investor funds. The proposed hotel is going to be the first six star hotel in Zimbabwe and the first to be Halal compliant, targeting the high-end clientele including those of the Muslim religion.

“The proposed hotel is set to be completed within the next 24 months, all things being equal.”

Documents seen by this publication indicate that Midlen would dispose of 99% of its equity to a financing partner in a transaction valued at US$3,3 million.

As documents show, an evaluation done by Bard Real Estate pegged the value of the asset at US$3,5 million.

“It is proposed that the financing partner subscribes for 99% shareholding in the company for a consideration of US$3 300 037,” excerpts from documents viewed by this publication read.

“The promoters obtained a copy of a valuation report of the investment property by Bard Real Estate, which placed the value of the investment property at US$3 550 000 translating to US$216,95 per square meter.”

If Midlen’s transaction sails through, the outfit claims that it will build a hotel targeting “the princes and the Arabic elites who are used to a high end, luxurious lifestyle, the types that travel in expensive private jets but are strict subscribers to and observers of the Islamic Halal laws”.

Source: Vic Falls under fire over irregular land sale (17/05/24)

City of Victoria Falls finalising master plan ahead of June deadline

Story by Tichaona Kurewa, ZBC News

THE City of Victoria Falls has made significant progress in crafting a master plan ahead of the 30 June deadline to restore sanity in local authorities.

A master plan being developed through support from the International Finance Corporation will act as the blueprint for achieving this vision by addressing key issues like infrastructure development, responsible tourism practices, environmental protection, and community engagement.

City of Victoria Falls, Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said, “We have started all the preliminary works, field studies and so forth, we are done with that. Currently, the consultant is working on our report of a study which should be presented to the council in a week or so.

“We are going to meet the end of June deadline. The master plan is important as it is the long-term planning document, which deals with zoning issues, land uses and many other issues related to how we use our land so that we come up with development that is well structured.”

Experts outlined the importance of the master plan.

A lawyer, Mr Tonderai Mutasa said, “The story does not end with the development of master plans by the local authority, it ends with the adherence to the master plan. Only compelling reasons must alter land use if there is to be order in local authorities. Once the master plan is followed, we will not have problems like illegal settlements within local authorities.”

“It is important for local authorities to have master plans to have proper and orderly development. All towns should have master plans to avoid haphazard development or unplanned settlements within the town. Without master plans, there will be sprouting of ugly settlements that will also be good grounds for diseases like cholera, etc,” said the former Mayor of Victoria Falls City, Alderman Nkosilathi Jiyane.

The Victoria Falls Master Plan presents a unique opportunity to unlock the full potential of the resort city in terms of tourism and other economic activities.

 Source:  City of Victoria Falls finalising master plan ahead of June deadline (20/02/24)

Land crunch in Victoria Falls

 Leonard Ncube, leonard.ncube@chronicle.co.zw

GOGO Gertrude Masilani (79) from Victoria Falls has been diligently paying for her housing waiting list form since 2004, despite being unemployed and relying on vending for survival. 

Over the past two decades, Gogo Masilani, along with more than 7  000 home seekers, submitted their applications at the council’s housing office, hoping for a chance to secure a housing stand.

The Victoria Falls City Council faces a significant challenge with a housing backlog exceeding 18 000, exacerbating the national housing backlog of over 1,5 million. 

The city, attaining status in 2019, has witnessed a surge in housing demand. To address this, the council initiated the Kazungula Housing Scheme, receiving applications from eager home seekers for vetting and allocation.

The week-long application process saw the council housing office buzzing with activity, accompanied by long queues and increased business for photocopying services. 

To streamline the process, the council categorised applicants based on waiting list dates, ensuring transparency in the allocation process.

Responding to concerns, the local authority management acknowledged the land scarcity issue and pledged efforts to secure more land for future housing projects. 

“The council has registered over 18  000 people on the waiting list across all densities and more are still registering. The local authority has exhausted its available land bank and it will                                                                                                continue engaging Central Government and other local authorities in the quest to have more land allocated for future housing schemes,” said the council.

The Kazungula Housing Scheme introduces a “beneficiary pays model,” requiring a minimum deposit for high and medium-density stands, with preferences given to first-time home seekers. Beneficiaries will be required to pay a minimum deposit of US$3  000 for high density and US$5 000 for medium density as an initial deposit. The remaining balance shall be payable over a period of 12 months.

However, anxiety permeates among some applicants, citing past challenges due to a lack of pay slips. Many, like Thulani Mkhwebu, express hope for consideration, emphasising their ability to pay despite the absence of formal income documentation.

“I applied to be on the waiting list in 1998 and I never defaulted paying for it although I missed out on the previous schemes because I had no pay slip hence I was never invited for interviews. I applied again this time and I pray I get considered because even if I don’t have a pay slip I can afford to pay,” said Mkhwebu.

Another home seeker, Sithembekile Sibanda said she inherited her late father’s waiting list form and paid for it from 2002 until 2021 when she was told that she would not be able to get a stand through it as she is above 18 years. She then applied for hers in 2021 and she is not eligible for the stands.

There are scores of businesspersons who told Chronicle on condition of anonymity that they missed on previous schemes because of lack of pay slips but they have the capacity to pay for the housing stands.

One home seeker said he was bitter.

“Mine is from 1999 but I have been omitted several times previously. I don’t know where I am getting it wrong but I applied again this time hoping for luck. My worry is that I started staying here as a young boy and I have even built a home in Dete so that makes me a local. I am bitter because I have been paying for a stand for more than 20 years and now I am more than 50 years old and still renting,” he said.

As the vetting process unfolds, some individuals share unique circumstances, such as inheritances and prior repossessions, adding complexity to the housing allocation dynamics. The council emphasises transparency and fairness in prioritising applicants with offer letters from previous schemes.

Kenneth Mariridza of Hlalani Kuhle said he got on the waiting list for medium density in 2000 but decided not to submit an application because he benefited from the high density before. 

According to the country’s housing laws, a person cannot be allocated more than one stand in the same density but can have one in each density.

Source: Land crunch in Victoria Falls (29/01/2024)

Repairs solve water crisis in Victoria Falls

VICTORIA Falls City residents are now enjoying uninterrupted water supplies following the completion of the maintenance work at the city’s pump station resulting in 900 cubic metres being pumped per hour.

Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said water being pumped is enough to supply all residents. Residents in the resort city have in the past few weeks been going for days without water as Victoria Falls City Council struggled to repair a burst pipe at its main pump station where more than 60 percent of water was being lost before distribution.

The local authority had resorted to using bowsers to supply residents in the wake of the biting water crisis. The Government granted Victoria Falls City Council autonomy to manage its own water reticulation a few years ago.

In the past, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) used to manage the city’s water reticulation. The council is pumping water from the Zambezi River using an ageing pumping system.

Mr Dube said the situation had improved significantly following the completion of repair work.

“The problem was at the source where we get water from the river and piping from the abstraction point to the waterworks. Our old infrastructure was giving us problems and we had to change now we are pumping using two pumps with a combined capacity of 900 cubic metres per hour,” he said.

“We are now supplying at a maximum and it is enough to cover consumption even the areas where we have not had water for a long time are now covered.”

The city council is making efforts to upgrade the water system through the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) programme that also involves upgrading sewer services.

A few months ago council launched a US$4 million wash programme where two mega reservoirs are being constructed in Mkhosana to improve storage and distribution.

The city had also budgeted more than US$1 million for the upgrade of the water abstraction plant where a new plant is supposed to be put to permanently address the water crisis.

The project was mooted several years ago and the local authority rehabilitated most of its infrastructure in 2012 in preparation for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation when it was realised that Wash infrastructure needed upgrading.

The rapid growth of the city in terms of the number of properties and hotels put pressure on water supply, sewerage services, solid waste, roads and drainage.

It caused limited pumping of water, underperformance of water treatment plant due to ageing, water leakage, and low pumping capacity, which resulted in erratic pumping and distribution.

The city pumps adequate water from the abstraction point at the Zambezi River, but the biggest challenge is the distribution of water due to the lack of reservoirs, especially in high-lying areas like Mkhosana.

Mr Dube urged residents to use water sparingly, saying it is expensive to pump and purify water on a daily basis.

Source: Repairs solve water crisis in Victoria FallsRepairs solve water crisis in Victoria Falls (08/10/23)

FIU unfreezes accounts of ‘Gold Mafia’ suspects

 The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit has lifted the order freezing bank accounts and assets of officials allegedly involved in the “Gold Mafia” of gold smuggling, money laundering and bribery outlined in an Al Jazeera documentary.

The FIU had not identified money laundering or financial crime linked to the Al Jazeera allegations, hence the unfreezing, but the unit made it clear that the unfreezing was without prejudice to investigations and resulting action by law enforcement agencies. The FIU would co-operate in any international investigations.

The accounts and assets were frozen so the FIU could carry out investigations into self-incriminating comments made by the officials in the four-episode Al Jazeera documentary.

Government had directed relevant State organs to launch investigations into the allegations made in the documentary as some people had confessed to engaging in corrupt activities.

In a statement yesterday, the FIU’s director general Mr Oliver Chiperesa, said the decision to unfreeze the officials’ assets had been informed by a careful investigation and analysis of the documentary.

“Following the broadcast of Al Jazeera’s documentary series titled “The Gold Mafia” the Financial Intelligence Unit issued a directive on 31 March 2023 directing financial institutions to identify, freeze and report bank accounts and other financial assets owned or controlled by individuals who were alleged to have played key roles in alleged acts of money laundering and other financial crimes.

“The FIU exercised its temporary freezing powers to ensure that any illicit proceeds connected to the allegations in the documentary would not be dissipated or disposed of by the persons concerned and prejudice potential future investigations,” he said.

Mr Chiperesa said the FIU had not identified any irregularities linked to allegations made in the documentary.

Assets belonging to Cleopas Chidodo, David Chirozvi, Mehlululi Dube and Frederick Kunaka had been frozen.

Chidodo is the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe head of security who was captured in Episode 2 of the documentary narrating how he assisted gold smugglers avoid detection as they transport contraband to Dubai via Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, while Chirozvi is the head of finance of the RBZ subsidiary Aurex Jewellery. 

Kunaka is the General Manager of Fidelity Printers and Refiners and was allegedly on the payroll of the gold mafia during which he received a kickback of US$30 000 a month according to the documentary.

Dube, who was allegedly being paid US$3 000 per month by the gold smuggling syndicate, is associated with Golden Beryl Private Limited.

“The FIU, working in close collaboration with law enforcement agencies, has since concluded its analysis of the four episodes of the Al Jazeera documentary and has also analysed the financial assets and transactions of the persons implicated in the documentary and has determined that there is no good cause for the freezing order to remain in place.

“The FIU has not identified transactions or assets linked to money laundering and related financial crime connected to the allegations in the Al Jazeera documentary,” said Mr Chiperesa.

“In view of the above, the FIU has directed financial institutions to unfreeze all the accounts and other financial assets that had been frozen pursuant to the directive of 31 March 2023.”

The FIU, said Mr Chiperesa, was ready to cooperate with any international investigations as required.

He said the unfreezing of the assets was above board.

“The unfreezing action is without prejudice to any further investigations that law enforcement agencies may wish to commence or continue against any of the persons involved.

“Some of the allegations in the documentary relate to money laundering and financial crimes alleged to have taken place outside Zimbabwe’’s borders.

“The FIU, if so requested, stands ready and is indeed mandated to cooperate with any international investigations against any of the persons or entities mentioned in the documentary,” said Mr Chiperesa.

Source: FIU unfreezes accounts of ‘Gold Mafia’ suspects (15/05/2023)

See also:

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (6th February 2023) Victoria Falls City Council in ultimatum tiff with Wild Horizons.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (24th March 2023) How a ‘Gold Mafia’ is looting Southern Africa, washing dirty cash.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (6th April 2023) Zanu PF-linked gold baron loses land tussle.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (30th April 2023) Mnangagwa ally suffers another Victoria Falls blow.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (16th May 2023) FIU unfreezes accounts of ‘Gold Mafia’ suspects.

Vic Falls City to release 500 stands

 VICTORIA Falls City Council will next month allocate about 500 high-density housing stands to home seekers as the local authority moves towards reducing the ballooning demand for stands.

Victoria Falls became a city in December 2019 and its housing waiting list is over 15 000.

The city has since engaged a surveyor to prepare the land in preparation for allocation to deserving home seekers.

The cost of each stand will be known in due course after the completion of the engineering design process.

The council made a resolution to sell high-density stands behind Mkhosana suburb last year and gave itself a target of 36 months to deliver.

The land is not yet developed for servicing.

Approval was sought from Government to select the pre-serviced stands.

Speaking at a recent full council meeting, council officials said the allocation of stands to residents is long overdue.

The councilors also proposed that 30 percent of the stands be reserved for youths.

The issue was raised by the housing committee which told the house that stands were yet to be handed over to it by management for allocation despite the resolution.

The committee said council was ready to allocate stands once management completed its processes.

“The house needs to know the update because the waiting list is ballooning. Some residents have been on the waiting list for a long time so we need to be guided by technocrats on where we are now,” said the Mayor Councilor Somvelo Dlamini while directing the housing committee to update the house.

His deputy Cllr Patricia Mwale said the agreement was to pre-sell the stands.

Cllr Lungile Nyoni proposed that the council should consider reserving 30 percent of the stands to youths who have capacity to pay for the stands.

Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said the resolution to seal the stands starting next month still stands.

“It will take 36 months from last year for council to deliver but for now even if we allocate the stands won’t be usable.

“After approval by Government council engaged a surveyor and we now have a certificate of survey. We are currently in the process of engineering design that will give us costing and we expect to be done at the end of this month.

” We did that in BB7 where people were allocated stands and paid and we used that money to survive the land. We will do that,” said Mr Dube.

BB7 is a low density housing scheme in Victoria Falls.

Nationally,  the housing  backlog is more that 1.2 million and Government targets to deliver more than 200 000 by 2025.

Source: Vic Falls City to release 500 stands (13/02/2023)

Victoria Falls F1-grade racecourse plans halted by High Court, Zimbabwe

 The lease agreement between Hwange Rural District Council and Stelix Civils, which intended to build the Victoria Falls F1-grade racecourse, for 500 hectares of land was declared null. The decision was made by Bulawayo’s High Court Justice Evangelista Kabasa.

The ruling was made after 100 villagers filed a lawsuit to stop the Victoria Falls F1-grade racecourse development. They claimed it would force them from their ancestral land.

After hearing arguments from lawyers, Justice Kabasa said the manner in which they went about it was unlawful. This is despite Hwange RDC’s plans of developing the public land in question.

The verdict was delivered on September 20 but was not made public until recently.

Why the villagers filed a lawsuit against the development of Victoria Falls F1-grade racecourse

The argument focused on the legality of a decision made by the local authorities on June 11, 2018. The decision granted Stelix a lease for 500 hectares of land. Stelix then fenced the area off.

The villagers of the communities of Chibode, Kachecheti, and Nemananga argued that the Hwange RDC had surpassed its authority. This was by attempting to grant a business lease to Stelix. The move violates Section 10 of the Communal Lands Act. It specifies that only the local government minister can set aside communal land for other developments. The villagers were represented by lawyer Josphat Tshuma of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.

The first respondent, local government minister July Moyo, chose to follow the court’s findings and chose not to file any papers.

Why the judge declared the development invalid

The local government minister was not involved in all the procedures that led to the Hwange RDC’s decision granting a lease to Stelix. This was according to Justice Kabasa’s ruling. Similarly, the Minister, not Hwange RDC, is to undertake the procedures outlined in Section 10.

According to the Administrative Justice Act, the judge said that it was unnecessary to address additional concerns raised by the villagers on the lack of consultation and the unreasonableness of Hwange RDC’s actions. She said that the conduct itself was unlawful and permeated throughout the entire process. She also claimed that it was irrational.

The judge stated she found no reason to impose punishing costs against the local authorities. She also credited the Hwange RDC for being driven by a desire to develop the region.

The judge finally ruled that the leasing agreement between Hwange RDC and Stelix for the purpose of constructing a racecourse was invalid. Additionally, all actions and conduct undertaken by Hwange RDC following the issuing of the lease agreement to Stelix were declared invalid.

The villagers’ demand that Stelix takes down its fence within 48 hours of the ruling was dismissed by the judge in their proposed draft order.

Source: Victoria Falls F1-grade racecourse plans halted by High Court, Zimbabwe (15/10/22)

See Also

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (9th May 2018) Investor keen to bring Grand Prix to Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (2nd June 2018) Huge Boost for Vic Falls As UAE Investors to Build World Class Hospital, Motor Racing Course, Shopping Mall and a Hotel.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (30th July 2018) Vic Falls’ $1.2 bn project takes shape.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (27th September 2018) Construction of Grand Prix circuit in Vic Falls to go ahead.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (4th June 2019) Vic Falls Grand Prix arena to boost tourism.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (29th January 2020) New Vic Falls sporting facility a boom for sports tourism.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (7th July 2021) Victoria Falls F1 circuit construction reaches major milestone.

Victoria Falls Falls Bits and Blogs (13th October 2022) Why a Formula One racetrack in Zimbabwe is a pipe dream.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (16th October 2022) Victoria Falls F1-grade racecourse plans halted by High Court.

Read more on the Keep Victoria Falls Wild website.

Victoria Falls to set up Masue City, Batoka City

Leonard Ncube , Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Government has made significant infrastructural developments in Victoria Falls despite the Covid-19 pandemic with a number of properties having been built in the past two years in line with the vision to make the tourist destination a conference capital.

Victoria Falls was declared a city in December 2019 becoming the first in the province and in Matabeleland region after Bulawayo metropolitan. President Mnangagwa conferred the status to the city.

Government wants to make Victoria Falls its conference capital and has since approved the Conceptual Development Framework for the Victoria Falls-Hwange-Binga Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

There are plans to come up with Masue City on the outskirts of the Victoria Falls City and Batoka City on the Zambezi gorges, which buttresses the combined development of Matabeleland North as a key component for transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy.

The new developments will come with state-of-the-art facilities ranging from five to seven-star hotels, recreational, banking and sporting facilities and Government is courting investors. The Victoria Falls Stock Exchange was also opened last year to attract foreign direct investment and business into the city.

In an interview yesterday, Victoria Falls Mayor Councillor Somveli Dlamini said there was an investment appetite in the country’s tourism destination.

“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Victoria Falls has grown rapidly in terms of infrastructure development such as new businesses, hotels and lodges.

We have got quite a number of them such as The Palm River Hotel which is due for opening next week, Victoria Falls Pioneers Lodge which has been completed and waiting for opening, residential flats for bookings, town houses being built behind Far School, Mbano Manor Hotel which opened last year and other lodges as well as two new indigenous garages.

“All these developments came through during Covid-19 lockdown period and this shows that investors are seriously looking into investing in Victoria Falls,” said Clr Dlamini.

He said the city has run out of land for expansion and was pinning hopes on Government unlocking the land bank in Masue Estate, just outside the city. Clr Dlamini said shortage of land has seen the city’s housing waiting list ballooning to more than 15 000.

Victoria Falls is bordered by Zambezi River, national parks and forest land, and communal land. The city’s Master Plan is now outdated and the mayor said alternative policies were being pursued.

“We have a challenge. Our Master Plan was done way back and now outdated, and while we are waiting for it as it might take long because it requires a lot of funding, we are currently working on coming up with a local development plan.

We will be having it in the next few months and we believe land will be availed to cater for our housing waiting list which is hovering around between 15 000 and 20 000,” he said.

Speaking during the 2022 pre-budget seminar in Victoria Falls recently, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda implored Government to speed up development of the Victoria Falls Master Plan so as to create an appetite for investment in the country’s tourism capital.

Meanwhile, Clr Dlamini during the week met the Zimpapers board and top management on the sidelines of the country’s biggest media organisation’s strategic planning meeting in the resort city. Clr Dlamini said there was appetite by the two organisations to partner each other, which was key to development.

“Zimpapers plays a very crucial role in marketing Victoria Falls and we appreciate its interest in investing and partnering council in marketing Victoria Falls destination and these facilities. We feel marketing and advertising is key in making sure these facilities are exploited,” he said.

Locals have also called upon Government to allow the city to retain a percentage of earnings from the Rainforest for development purposes.
@ncubeleon

Source:  Victoria Falls to set up Masue City, Batoka City (21/11/21)

I’m still the boss: Vic Falls town clerk

 VIC­TO­RIA Falls town clerk Ron­nie Dube yes­ter­day in­sisted that he re­mains the coun­cil boss, a day af­ter re­ports emerged that he had been sus­pended on charges of cor­rup­tion, abuse of of­fice and in­com­pe­tence.

The sus­pen­sion of Dube, a for­mer chief ex­ec­u­tive of the Tsholot­sho Ru­ral District (RDC), comes a month af­ter the lo­cal au­thor­ity re­newed his con­tract by another five years af­ter re­ceiv­ing praise on his work­man­ship.

Un­der Dube, Vic­to­ria Falls was granted city sta­tus in De­cem­ber 2020 to be­come the first city in Mata­bele­land North and the sec­ond af­ter Bulawayo in the whole south­ern re­gion.

How­ever, Vic­to­ria Falls mayor Somveli Dlamini said Dube has been sus­pended with im­me­di­ate ef­fect, and with no pay and ben­e­fits pend­ing in­ves­ti­ga­tions.

“It ap­pears to me there are acts of mis­con­duct or omis­sion in­con­sis­tent with the ful­fil­ment of the ex­press or im­plied con­di­tions of your con­tract or du­ties that need to be in­ves­ti­gated,” Dlamini wrote in a let­ter dated April 28.

“It is pru­dent that you are sus­pended from duty and of­fice of town clerk to pave the way for in­ves­ti­ga­tions which when con­cluded will guide the coun­cil on the course of ac­tion to take.”

Dlamini cited sec­tion 139(3)(a) of the Ur­ban Coun­cil Act in deny­ing Dube any salary and ben­e­fits as stated in the con­tract.

In an in­ter­view yes­ter­day, Dube was not amused by his “sus­pen­sion” as he in­sisted that he re­mains the re­sort town’s town clerk.

“As far as I am con­cerned, the sus­pen­sion I know of is that cir­cu­lat­ing on so­cial me­dia. I have not re­ceived any let­ter on that and such, I have dis­re­garded the so-called sus­pen­sion as I con­tinue with my of­fi­cial du­ties.

The mayor never con­vened any spe­cial coun­cil meet­ing on this so-called sus­pen­sion. I re­main the town clerk,” Dube said.

The Vic­to­ria Falls mayor could not be reached for com­ment.

Dube is not new to the Vic­to­ria Falls Mu­nic­i­pal­ity af­ter hav­ing served as the town’s first cham­ber sec­re­tary be­tween 2002 and 2005.

He re­joined the lo­cal au­thor­ity on De­cem­ber 1, 2016 re­plac­ing Christopher Dube, the cur­rent Bulawayo town clerk. Dube also served as the Gwanda Mu­nic­i­pal­ity cham­ber sec­re­tary and left the Tsholot­sho RDC un­der a cloud.

Source: I’m still the boss: Vic Falls town clerk (01/05/2021)