Journalist and activist Hopewell Chin’ono has exposed a troubling link between Zimbabwe’s political elite and a land-for-votes scheme that threatens the integrity of the country’s governance.
According to his sources within the Ministry of Local Government, several opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) have been implicated in an alarming practice where urban land is allegedly exchanged for political support of President Emmerson Mnangagwa amidst ongoing impeachment fears.
Chin’ono named several opposition MPs in this controversial exchange, including prominent figures such as Thokozani Khupe, Ottilia Sibanda, Richard Tsvangirayi, Kucaca Phulu, and Vincent Sihlabo.
These names join a growing list of previously identified individuals, highlighting a broader conspiracy that appears to encompass both ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members.
The alleged scheme involves gifting 1,000 square meters of prime urban land, much of which is classified as greenways—areas designated for environmental and recreational use—to incentivize MPs to pledge their loyalty to Mnangagwa’s administration.
Locations for this land allocation reportedly include affluent neighborhoods such as Westgate, Marlborough, Borrowdale Central, Greystone Park, and Nyabira, raising concerns about the detrimental effects on communal green spaces and the environment.
