Church Defies Court, Residents Protest

Residents in Borrowdale have escalated their dispute over church operations at Stand Number 9 Doveton Road to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), alleging the use of a fraudulent document to defy a High Court order barring activities at the property.

The matter centres on the continued operations by the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe’s Borrowdale Circuit at the residential address, despite a court ruling interdicting its use as a place of worship.

The publication has a letter written by a complainant identified as Mudzingwa and addressed to the ZACC Executive Secretary.

In the correspondence, Mudzingwa lodges a formal criminal complaint against the Acting Director of Urban Planning for the City of Harare, Barbara Mugocha, alleging abuse of office and possible fraud in relation to documentation purportedly authorising continued church operations at the stand.

Court records referenced in the complaint, under case number HCH2095/24, show that the High Court on 25 June 2025 interdicted the United Methodist Church from using 9 Doveton Road, Borrowdale, for church activities.

The court order required the Church to cease operations until it had fulfilled regulatory and compliance requirements in terms of City of Harare by-laws and planning procedures.

Residents argue that despite the interdict, church activities resumed after a letter surfaced allegedly granting clearance for continued use of the premises.

The disputed letter reportedly bears the signature of Acting Urban Planning Director Barbara Mugocha, who has denied that the signature is hers, describing the correspondence as fraudulent.

Senior council officials whose names appear on the document have also distanced themselves from it, raising further questions about its authenticity and origin.

“If the court interdicted operations, then any document authorising continued use must be scrutinised thoroughly,” said one resident involved in the complaint.

“We want to know who produced it and under whose authority.”

The Borrowdale residents are being represented by Herbert Muromba of Kantor & Zimmerman, who is pursuing legal and regulatory remedies arising from the alleged non-compliance and disputed documentation.

ZACC official who is not allowed to speak to the media confirmed receipt of the complaint and indicated that the matter is under assessment, but has not yet provided further updates.

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said he was aware of the concerns but indicated that he is still reviewing the matter.

“I am yet to look into the issue in detail. Once I have been fully briefed, the City will determine the appropriate course of action,” he said.

He did not confirm whether an internal investigation had been initiated.