Fraud Charges Against Harare Deputy Mayor Rosemary Muronda and Ex-MP Shadreck Mashayamombe Dropped

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Fraud charges against Harare Deputy Mayor Rosemary Muronda and former ZANU-PF legislator Shadreck Mashayamombe have been withdrawn after prosecutors cited insufficient evidence to proceed with the case. The two appeared before Harare magistrate Jessie Kufa on Tuesday, 26 May, where the State formally withdrew the charges. They were represented by legal practitioners Devoted Ngagano and Barnabus Kazembe. The case centred on allegations that Muronda and Mashayamombe had fraudulently sold or attempted to facilitate the sale of City of Harare land in the capital's affluent Newlands suburb.

According to court proceedings, prosecutors informed the court that there was insufficient evidence to sustain the fraud allegations against the two accused persons. The complainant in the matter was Mavis Java, a farmer and director of property development company Maja Logistics. The State had alleged that between April and June 2025, Muronda and Mashayamombe approached Java and represented that they could assist her in acquiring commercial stands in Newlands through companies linked to them and individuals allegedly associated with the City of Harare. Prosecutors claimed the pair misrepresented their authority to facilitate the allocation and ownership of the land, resulting in financial prejudice to the complainant amounting to US$100,000.

Court documents indicated that on June 27, 2025, Java, accompanied by her lawyer Tawanda Maguwudze of Chasi and Maguwudze Law Firm, allegedly met the accused persons at the firm's offices. During the meeting, prosecutors alleged that Java paid a US$50,000 deposit to each accused person, bringing the total amount allegedly paid to US$100,000.

The State further claimed that Muronda and Mashayamombe issued signed receipts acknowledging receipt of the funds and provided company documentation related to the proposed transaction. However, investigations later reportedly established that the same commercial stands had already been allocated by the City of Harare to another company, raising questions over the legitimacy of the transaction.

Despite the initial allegations, the State ultimately elected to withdraw the matter before trial, effectively bringing the criminal proceedings to an end unless new evidence emerges. Under Zimbabwean law, a withdrawal before plea or conviction does not amount to an acquittal, meaning prosecutors may revive the matter should additional evidence become available in the future. Neither Muronda nor Mashayamombe commented publicly in court following the withdrawal of the charges.

The case is the latest to draw attention to ongoing disputes surrounding land allocation, ownership claims, and property development transactions in Harare. Land-related conflicts involving local authorities, private developers, and prospective investors have become increasingly common as demand for commercial and residential land continues to rise in the capital.

Legal experts say due diligence remains critical when purchasing or investing in land to ensure ownership records, council approvals, and allocation documents are properly verified before any financial commitments are made. The withdrawal of the case marks a significant legal victory for Muronda and Mashayamombe, ending months of uncertainty surrounding allegations that had attracted considerable public interest.

Rosemary Muronda fraud charges