Marshall Bwanya
Harare – The long-standing Mount Pleasant Heights Phase 2 land scandal has taken a new twist as land developer Anthony Taengwa Parehwa negotiates out-of-court settlements with some property buyers, while police confirm that four fraud cases linked to the scam are now before the courts.
However, residents remain disillusioned, lamenting the lack of progress in securing basic amenities and accusing the system of failing them.
This saga, which spans 17 years, began in 2007 when Parehwa, through his companies Jockstar Investments (Pvt) Ltd and IBI Property and Infrastructure (Pvt) Limited sold residential stands to two distinct groups of buyers.
The first group, who purchased land between 2007 and 2010, were promised fully serviced plots with roads, water, and electricity. The second group bought stands after 2011.
They were informed they would need to pay additional development fees, although the costs were not initially specified.
Despite paying for their stands, many buyers are still waiting for basic infrastructure, while others are battling Parehwa’s demands for arbitrary additional payments which are not stipulated in their agreements.
Some developers have opted to negotiate with Parehwa through their lawyers to secure title deeds, but the process remains fraught with uncertainty.
Residents Decry Lack of Progress
Residents have expressed frustration over the lack of tangible changes, particularly regarding the housing amenities Parehwa was obligated to develop.
One homeowner, who requested anonymity fearing victimisation, said, “From our perspective, nothing has changed. He (Parehwa) seems to have gotten away with the scam. The system simply failed us.”
The crisis deepened when Parehwa resized some stands without consulting buyers, leading to threats of repossession unless additional fees were paid. Some buyers, fearing the loss of their investments, complied, while others resisted and found themselves embroiled in legal battles.
Legal Battles and Out-of-Court Settlements
While some property buyers have pursued legal action, others have opted for out-of-court settlements to avoid prolonged litigation.
A buyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity said; “I am currently involved in an out-of-court settlement with the developer. It was the only way to move forward after years of waiting.”
However, not all legal cases have progressed.
Nyarai, who bought her stand in 2010, faced a lawsuit from Parehwa after refusing to pay an additional US$6 500 in development fees.
The case was later abandoned by Parehwa and dismissed by the court due to procedural non-compliance.
Despite this, Nyarai remains uncertain about her future. “I’ve had to halt construction because I don’t know if the developer will take me to court again. It’s a constant state of worry,” she said.
Police Investigations and Government Inaction
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that four fraud cases involving Parehwa are now before the courts.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating four cases of fraud against Antony Taengwa Parehwa. The cases are before the courts,” Nyati said.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is taking all necessary steps to address the challenges, including conducting awareness campaigns to conscientise the public on land scams. Members of the public are encouraged to report land barons to the Police.”
In March 2015, Parehwa lost Zanu PF’s Hwedza North primary elections to David Musabayana, showing his links to the party.
Some home seekers say Parehwa has been using his political to stall investigations of the land scandal.
Nyathi however, emphasised that the investigations are being conducted without fear or favour, regardless of Parehwa’s political connections.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police’s investigation into the Mount Pleasant Heights land scam is being conducted without fear of favour and without any influence from politicians.
“The Police is committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served regardless of any individual’s connections or affiliations,” added Nyathi.
However, residents feel let down by the lack of government intervention. Despite appeals to high-ranking officials, including former President Robert Mugabe and former Vice President Joice Mujuru, no tangible solutions have been offered.
A homeowner, who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, expressed pessimism about the progress made by the police and authorities in investigating the matter.
“From our perspective, nothing has changed. He (Parehwa) seems to have gotten away with the scam! ZACC and all! I am not aware of any police investigations.
“As for current developments, I will reiterate, we were hard done by, and very little has been salvageable from this whole sordid saga. The system simply failed us,” lamented the homeowner.
The ministry of local government has acknowledged issues in the permit issuance process but has failed to address the root causes of the crisis.
Efforts to reach Parehwa for comment on the ongoing issues at Mount Pleasant Phase 2 proved unsuccessful, as his phone remained unanswered despite repeated attempts on various dates in January and February 2025.
Additionally, Parehwa did not respond to SMS, WhatsApp, or Telegram messages sent to him.