Itai Mazire
Two Shurugwi villagers, Themba Munyimi and Prosper Maruka, have been arrested on allegations of illegally occupying State land designated for grazing in Gwanza South, Shurugwi.
The pair are expected to appear before the Gweru Magistrates’ Court today, 10 June 2026.
According to allegations, sometime in 2014, the accused persons unlawfully settled on a piece of land without the authority of the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development. The land forms part of an area set aside by the Government as grazing land.
Investigations by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) established that the accused persons do not have any authority, lease agreements or offer letters authorising their occupation of the land.
The arrests come just weeks after two other villagers were convicted for a similar offence in the same area.
In late May 2026, Francis Madungwe and Nomsa Munyimi were brought before the Shurugwi Magistrates’ Court on charges of illegally occupying State-designated grazing land in Gwanza South, Shurugwi North Constituency.
Unlike the current case, which dates back to 2014, the unlawful allocation and occupation in the May case occurred in 2022.
On 29 May 2026, the court convicted both Francis Madungwe and Nomsa Munyimi, sentencing each to a suspended six‑month prison term conditional upon payment of a USD 400 fine.
In a statement at the time, ZACC detailed the May arrests and made clear the commission’s stance on land violations.
“Two Shurugwi villagers, Francis Madungwe and Nomsa Munyimi, have been arrested on allegations of allocating themselves and illegally occupying State land designated for grazing purposes in Gwanza South, Shurugwi North Constituency.
“Allegations are that sometime in 2022, the accused persons subdivided grazing land and unlawfully allocated themselves some portions without the authority of the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development,” said ZACC.
ZACC has not yet issued a separate statement regarding the new arrests of Themba Munyimi and Prosper Maruka, but sources indicate the commission is continuing its crackdown on illegal land occupations across the Midlands province. The two men remain in custody pending their court appearance today.
