By Victor Fanuel
HARARE — Local government minister Daniel Garwe is facing mounting pressure following his recent explosive remarks he made at Gilstone Farm in Seke, where he appeared to implicate prominent religious leader Walter Magaya and Attorney-General Virginia Mabhiza in alleged illegal land allocations.
Garwe’s comments, delivered during a government operation targeting alleged land invasions in Seke, have triggered political fallout, legal threats and sharp criticism from within government circles, amid accusations that the minister acted recklessly by naming individuals without producing tangible evidence linking them to land baron activities.
Addressing settlers at Gilstone Farm, Garwe declared: “If fake prophets come, the likes of Magaya, Mabhiza and others, lying to you taking US$85, US$100, US$200 from you, faring you with buses, saying none can do anything to them, even Minister Garwe or Ndudzo, saying even the law cannot hinder me, those guys are possessed and I want to destroy that power today.”
The remarks immediately sparked widespread speculation that the minister was directly accusing Attorney-General Virginia Mabhiza and Walter Magaya of illegally parcelling out land in Seke.
However, the Office of the Attorney-General swiftly moved to distance Mabhiza from the controversy.
In a statement issued following circulation of the video on social media, the Attorney-General’s Office said: “The Office of the Attorney-General wishes to clarify the confusion and misunderstanding related to a video circulating on social media, following remarks made by the Honourable Minister of Local Government, Hon. Daniel Garwe, at Gilston Farm in the context of ongoing efforts to address illegal land allocations and the activities of land barons.”
The statement further added: “The video makes reference to an individual named ‘Mabhiza.’ For the avoidance of doubt, this reference does not pertain to the Attorney-General, nor any official within the Office of the Attorney-General.”
The Attorney-General’s Office said the clarification was necessary “to prevent any misinterpretation and to safeguard the integrity and reputation of the person and the Office of the Attorney-General.”
It also stressed: “For the record, the Office of the Attorney General does not condone the actions of land barons or any illegal conduct related to land allocation.”
The office urged members of the public “to exercise due diligence and refrain from disseminating inaccurate or misleading information.”
Despite the clarification, the controversy surrounding Garwe has continued to intensify.
Impeccable sources familiar with the matter said Attorney-General Virginia Mabhiza reportedly approached President Emmerson Mnangagwa over Garwe’s conduct amid concerns that the minister’s remarks had unnecessarily dragged senior state officials into a politically explosive land dispute.
Sources further alleged that Walter Magaya personally confronted Garwe over the matter, demanding clarification over why his name had been mentioned publicly in connection with illegal land allocations.
According to insiders, Garwe later attempted to distance himself from the fallout by allegedly claiming he was not referring to the religious leader but “another Magaya.”
Critics, however, say the explanation has failed to calm the storm, particularly because the minister allegedly did not provide documentary proof or publicly identify the actual individuals responsible for the alleged illegal land allocations at Gilstone Farm.
Sources close to the dispute said Garwe is now facing a barrage of possible lawsuits and may be issued with a 48-hour ultimatum to retract his statements or face legal action for defamation.
The latest controversy comes amid wider scrutiny over land ownership and political patronage involving farms in Seke under the jurisdiction of the Manyame Rural District Council.
Investigations and documents seen by this publication reveal that several farms — including Dinnotar, Kimcote, Gilstone, Tantalon and Edinburgh — were at different times earmarked for development by Manyame Rural District Council before allegedly being taken over by politically connected elites and private interests.
Sources allege that Edinburgh Farm was allocated to businessman and ZANU PF politician Philip Chiyangwa through Pinnacle Holdings, while Dinnotar was reportedly linked to former ZANU PF political heavyweight Godwills Masimirembwa.
Gilstone Farm, which had originally been earmarked for a council housing scheme intended to ease accommodation shortages in Seke, was later reportedly transferred to private interests despite resistance from local authorities.
Documents reportedly show that the late former Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Minister Joel Biggie Matiza had supported the Gilstone Rural Service Centre project, under which roads were graded and housing plans prepared to benefit ordinary residents, particularly youths.
However, the project was later reversed after intervention by then Lands Minister Douglas Mombeshora, who reportedly argued the land should remain designated for agricultural use.
Ironically, critics say portions of the same land later ended up under private housing schemes linked to politically connected entities.
Meanwhile, pressure is also mounting internally within government over Garwe’s leadership style and management of the Ministry of Local Government.
A senior source within the ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, described Garwe as “a growing liability” whose conduct was embarrassing government.
“His uncouth conduct has now made him a liability to both the ministry and government,” the source said.
The official further alleged that Garwe’s ministry is currently failing to comply with more than 30 court orders, placing the ministry in repeated contempt of court disputes.
“He is failing to execute numerous court orders directed at the ministry.
“This is creating serious governance and legal problems,” the source alleged.
Some ruling party officials are also reportedly unhappy with Garwe, accusing him of turning the ministry into “a personal campaign war chest” by allegedly distributing land and properties to political allies from Mashonaland East through patronage networks.
The officials further accused the minister of using public rallies to attack perceived opponents rather than addressing policy concerns affecting local authorities and housing delivery.
During recent rallies, Garwe reportedly boasted that he had “enough land to build what he wants,” remarks critics say have deepened perceptions of political entitlement surrounding state land allocations.
The controversy now threatens to further expose longstanding allegations of political interference, elite capture and opaque land deals in Seke and surrounding areas, where ordinary home seekers continue to bear the brunt of Zimbabwe’s worsening housing crisis.
