Alpha Housing Development (Private) Limited director Jonathan Gapare has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) over allegations of illegally selling residential stands worth about US$4.74 million.
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Read E-PaperZACC alleges that Gapare and his company sold 632 stands that were outside an agreement with the Municipality of Beitbridge, potentially depriving the local authority of millions of dollars in revenue.
The matter dates back to July 2015, when the then-Beitbridge Town Council gave Alpha Housing Development land in high-density areas to develop low-cost housing.
A memorandum of understanding signed between the council and the company in November 2015 required Alpha to service 600 residential stands with roads, water and sewer infrastructure. The company was also expected to build 500 low-cost houses for home seekers.
As part of the agreement, Alpha was supposed to give the council 40 houses and 60 serviced stands.
However, ZACC alleges that the company exceeded the number of stands it was authorised to develop under the 1,132-stand Dulibadzimu West layout.
Investigators allege that 605 additional stands were sold, including land reserved for the council’s 40 houses and 60 stands.
The municipality later ordered Alpha to surrender the properties, but ZACC says the company did not comply.
In September 2023, the council obtained a court order stopping Alpha from selling, developing or advertising stands in the area without municipal approval.
Despite the order, ZACC alleges that the company went on to sell another 527 residential stands valued at approximately US$3.99 million.
According to the commission, the alleged unauthorised sales brought the total number of stands sold outside the agreement to 632, with the municipality’s potential loss estimated at US$4.74 million.
ZACC said no money or property had been recovered.
Gapare and Alpha Housing Development, represented by lawyer Zivanai Vhimisai, appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba on Wednesday.
They were granted US$400 bail each and remanded to October 16.
Willbrought Muleya represented the state.
The allegations have not yet been tested or proven in court.
