Zanu PF Epworth South MP Accused of Orchestrating Demo to Block Minister’s Tour Over Alleged Land Scandal
Zanu PF Epworth South legislator Hon. Mutana Mbofana Taedzwa has been accused of mobilising a demonstration against Harare Resident Minister of Provincial Affairs, Senator Charles Z. Tawengwa, in an alleged attempt to stop him from touring devolution-funded projects in the area — reportedly fearing exposure of land scams linked to his name.
According to senior Zanu PF officials and community administrators in Epworth, the planned demonstration failed to take off as expected. Senator Tawengwa had been conducting an assessment tour of various devolution projects to monitor progress and evaluate ongoing development initiatives in the constituency.
Sources claim that Hon. Taedzwa feared the Minister’s visit would expose areas where he allegedly invaded land and developed several projects on illegally occupied space. He is accused of working with some residents’ associations he is affiliated with to mobilise people to stage a protest at the Epworth Local Board offices in an attempt to block the Minister’s visit.
However, the plan reportedly backfired after officials close to the Minister noticed groups of people milling around the offices and quickly diverted Senator Tawengwa to another meeting venue. Authorities who were part of the Minister’s entourage said the decision was made amid fears the demonstrators could become violent.
Anonymous local officials allege that Hon. Taedzwa used his political influence to fraudulently allocate residential stands on a site originally reserved for the construction of a district general hospital — a crucial facility that Epworth currently lacks. The land, designated for the hospital under the Epworth Master Layout Plan approved by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, is now occupied by more than 600 families, up from an initial 200.
These families were supposed to be relocated to proper residential areas for free under the Presidential Title Deeds Programme. However, it is alleged that the MP colluded with residents’ associations to allocate additional stands on the hospital site to new settlers, inflating the number of households eligible for reallocation and thus increasing his potential gain.
Reports further suggest that about five years ago, as the Presidential Title Deeds Programme was being prepared, Taedzwa allegedly misled home seekers by claiming that the ruling party was identifying loyal members who would benefit from the programme. He is accused of allocating temporary shelter to them on the hospital site, collecting money under the pretext of facilitating eventual formal allocation of stands with title deeds.
When contacted for comment, the Epworth South legislator dismissed the allegations outright. “Ok hapana hapana — nothing like that. I’ll call you,” said Hon. Taedzwa, insisting he had nothing to hide. “Go ahead, nyora nhema idzodzo, hazvina kana basa,” he added, referring to the allegations as lies.
