Prominent Chitungwiza Zanu PF land baron Dr Fredrick Mabamba who owned at least half of the town has died in remand prison at Chikurubi.
According to multiple media reports, Mabamba collapsed this afternoon and was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Mabamba who reportedly owns thousands of stands in the town was arrested last month together with a Zanu PF Chitungwiza youth leader Taurai Chivhanga.
Mabamba was elected Zanu-PF Chitungwiza councillor for Ward 25 in the 2013 Elections. In 2014, Mabamba was fired by then Local Government minister Ignatious Chombo from his post as deputy mayor over allegations of corruptly acquiring vast tracts of land in Chitungwiza and illegally allocating them to residents.
Mabamba was arrested on 2 February 2021 by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. Mabamba was arrested on allegations related to illegal parcelling out of residential stands all over Chitungwiza.
According to police sources, he was apprehended at his Town Centre offices following a witch-hunting visit by a high powered Government delegation that toured Chitungwiza and Budiriro 5B in January 2021.
In 2020, Mabamba caused a stir after trying to block Chitungwiza Municipality from constructing its Civic Centre on State land claiming the land belonged to him.
He also allegedly sold a piece of land that was set aside for building a hospital in Unit L. It is alleged that 150 stands were sold to people by Mabamba on a piece of land meant for a church.
