Borrowdale residents refer the church to ZACC over an alleged forged clearance

Southerton Business Times
Mar 1
2 min read

Methodist Church in Borrowdale — area around 9 Doveton Road where the dispute is centred — Methodist Church

HARARE — Residents of Borrowdale have escalated a long‑running dispute over the operation of the United Methodist Church at Stand Number 9, Doveton Road, alleging that a fraudulent document was used to flout a High Court order that interdicted religious activities at the property.

Court records under case HCH2095/24 show that the High Court of Zimbabwe, on 25 June 2024, interdicted the church from conducting services at the residential address until the property complied with the City of Harare by‑laws and planning procedures. Residents say the order has been ignored after a letter surfaced purporting to grant clearance for continued church use.

Allegations of a forged clearance and referral to ZACC

Residents, represented by Herbert Muromba of Kantor & Immerman, have referred the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti‑Corruption Commission (ZACC), alleging irregularities surrounding the document said to authorise the church’s continued operations. The complaint names the Acting Director of Urban Planning for the City of Harare, Barbara Mugocha, among others, suggesting possible fraud linked to the letter.

Mugocha has reportedly denied that the signature on the document is hers and described the correspondence as fraudulent. Senior council officials whose names appear on the letter have likewise distanced themselves from it, raising further questions about the document’s authenticity.

Residents say the purported clearance has been used to justify defiance of the High Court order.

“If the court interdicted operations, then any document authorising continued use must be scrutinised thoroughly,” one resident said. “We want to know who produced it and under whose authority.”

Legal and regulatory context

High Court order: The June 25, 2024, interdict barred religious services at 9 Doveton Road pending compliance with municipal planning and zoning rules.
Municipal compliance: City of Harare by‑laws require properties used for institutional or commercial purposes to obtain planning clearance and change‑of‑use approvals before hosting organised activities.
Alleged forgery: The emergence of a letter purporting to clear the church has prompted criminal and administrative concerns, hence the referral to ZACC for investigation.

Borrowdale residents are pursuing both legal remedies to enforce the High Court order and regulatory action to determine whether municipal officials or other parties were complicit in producing or relying on a forged document.

Church response and community tensions

Efforts to obtain comment from the United Methodist Church were unsuccessful at the time of reporting; calls to the church’s reverend went unanswered. The dispute adds to mounting tensions in residential neighbourhoods over the unauthorised use of private properties for commercial, institutional, or religious activities without full compliance with municipal regulations.

Residents and property owners say such disputes strain community relations and undermine planning controls designed to preserve residential amenity and safety.

Next steps

ZACC investigation: Authorities will assess the authenticity of the document, interview named officials, and determine whether criminal or disciplinary action is warranted.
Court enforcement: Residents may seek further court orders to compel compliance or to hold parties in contempt if the interdict continues to be ignored.
Municipal review: The City of Harare is likely to review planning records and any internal approvals connected to Stand Number 9, and to clarify the status of the property’s permitted use.