HARARE, Zimbabwe — Two senior ZANU PF officials from Harare South have been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) over an alleged US$1.5 million land scam.
According to ZACC spokesperson Simiso Mlevu, Phinias Muchichwa (41), the ZANU PF chairperson for the Godfrey Chidyausiku district, and Anderson Frendson (37), the branch chief of security for the Josiah Magama branch, were arrested for allegedly defrauding desperate home seekers through the illegal sale of residential stands.
The two are accused of illegally subdividing Stand 34 in Tariro Township, Hopley — a 9.3473-hectare property owned by Sunshine Developments (Pvt) Ltd — into over 200 residential stands, which they reportedly sold for US$300 each without the company’s consent.
“They sold privately-owned land without authority, prejudicing Sunshine Developments of approximately US$1.5 million,” Mlevu said.
Investigators believe the pair targeted fellow party members and residents struggling to find housing amid Harare’s ongoing urban land crisis.
Both Muchichwa and Frendson are expected to appear in court on October 6, 2025, facing fraud charges.
Their arrests come as public outrage grows over widespread land scams across Zimbabwe — many allegedly tied to politically connected figures. Despite repeated government pledges to tackle corruption, illegal land sales remain rampant, particularly in high-density urban areas.
ZACC says more arrests are expected as additional victims come forward, while Sunshine Developments (Pvt) Ltd has not yet commented on the case.
