Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
HARARE Ward 16 councillor Denford Ngadziore and City of Harare district officer Jane Gambizah have been remanded in custody to today for bail consideration after appearing in court facing allegations of criminal abuse of office.
The two appeared before Harare Regional Magistrate Mr Ignatio Mhene.
The complainant is the City of Harare, represented by its mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume.
The State alleges that sometime in 2025, Ngadziore and Gambizah hatched a plan to facilitate the construction of shops on council land behind the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) offices in Mabelreign without the requisite council approval.
Prosecutor Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe alleged that the two intended to secure shops which would subsequently be rented out to members of the public.
The court heard that Ngadziore allegedly used his position as Ward 16 councillor and chairperson of the Harare City Council’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) committee to support the development.
Gambizah is employed by the City of Harare as a district officer at its Mabelreign office.
Her duties include interpreting and implementing council policies, resolutions, by-laws, Government regulations and directives, ensuring compliance with development control requirements, and monitoring activities within the district.
Ngadziore, according to the State, is responsible for monitoring municipal staff and planning departments to ensure that development policies are implemented within the legal framework.
The State alleges that in early December 2025, Gambizah introduced the director of Cartin Mark Up Investments (trading as Arise and Shine), Fasten Manyika, to Ngadziore.
Manyika, Ngadziore and Gambizah allegedly held a meeting at the proposed site, where the businessman was shown the piece of council land where the construction was intended to take place.
It is alleged that the accused persons then allowed construction to commence without following the required council procedures.
Manyika allegedly mobilised resources and began constructing markets and tuck-shops on the land without a City of Harare full council resolution or approved building plans.
The State further alleges that Ngadziore and Gambizah instructed Manyika to use measurements of 2 metres by 1.5 metres for the structures and assured him that the necessary paperwork would be processed after construction had commenced.
Investigations by the City of Harare allegedly established that the land was designated as open space, recreational space and public parking under the operative Mabelreign Local Development Plan Number 20.
The court heard that on December 19, 2025, following an alleged instruction from Ngadziore, Cartin Mark Up Investments, through Manyika, wrote to the City of Harare proposing to construct a temporary market facility as a corporate donation.
The proposal was reportedly aimed at assisting the council during the planned renovation and upgrading of the existing Mabelreign People’s Market.
Gambizah allegedly advised the company to submit its application to the office of the Director of Housing, Mr Admore Nhekairo, in line with council procedures.
Residents of Mabelreign subsequently allegedly began submitting applications to secure shops at the proposed facility.
On December 22, 2025, City of Harare Development Control Officer Michael Kawara allegedly noticed construction taking place on the pavement near a car wash while passing through the Mabelreign area.
The court heard that Kawara approached the people working on the structures and requested documentation, including proof of ownership or entitlement to the land.
However, the workers allegedly told him that the paperwork was at their offices.
Kawara then contacted Manyika, who allegedly gave him the same explanation.
Further investigations allegedly established that, before construction could lawfully commence, the City of Harare’s Urban Planning Department was required to prepare a site plan and allocate a stand number for the proposed development.
The State alleges that only after those processes had been completed could building plans for the structures be considered.
A council resolution approving the construction was also allegedly required before any work could commence.
The State further alleges that Gambizah had already started receiving applications from members of the public for the shops even before construction of the structures had been completed.
Prosecutor Mr Gangarahwe told the court that the accused persons, despite their positions and knowledge of council procedures, allegedly facilitated the development in breach of those procedures.
Source: Council officials remanded in custody over illegal construction – herald
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