Munyaradzi Mashiri
Zim Now Court Correspondent
Collen Gumbato, the former chairperson of the Miracles of Heaven Cooperative, has been arraigned in court for allegedly pegging and allocating residential stands illegally.
Gumbato, 40, of Retreat Farm, Waterfalls, appeared before Magistrate Dennis Mangosi at the Harare Magistrates' Court, facing charges of unauthorized land development. He has since been remanded in custody.
According to the State, represented by prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, Gumbato, along with his accomplices—Benny Dzonga, Ngwarai Mutasa, and William Dangaranga, who are still at large—invaded Retreat Farm in Waterfalls, Harare, from 2016 to September 2024.
In 2020, Gumbato established the Miracles of Heaven housing cooperative and was elected its chairperson. It is alleged that during his tenure, he illegally pegged, allocated, and sold residential stands to members of the cooperative and unsuspecting home seekers, many of whom have since begun constructing houses on the disputed land.
The court heard that Gumbato’s arrest came on October 14, following a police operation named "No to Land Barons," which seeks to crack down on illegal land deals.
The case continues as authorities search for Gumbato’s accomplices, who remain at large.
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