24/09/2026
Jonathan Gapare Arrested Over US$4.7 Million Beitbridge Stands Scandal
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) confirms the arrest of the Director of Alpha Housing Development (Private) Limited, Jonathan Gapare, on allegations of unlawfully selling 632 residential stands, prejudicing the Municipality of Beitbridge of US$4.74 million in potential revenue.
Allegations are that in July 2015, Beitbridge Town Council resolved to allocate virgin land in the high-density suburbs to Alpha Housing Development to produce a layout plan and develop low-cost houses.
The town council reportedly entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alpha Housing Development in November 2015 to service 600 stands with roads, sewer and water and develop 500 low-cost houses to be sold to home seekers as payment for developing the land.
From the 600 stands, Alpha Housing Development was expected to hand over to Council, 40 low-cost houses and 60 serviced stands for commonage to be remitted to the Ministry of Local Government.
Investigations established that in 2016, the Department of Spatial Planning, Matabeleland South Province, prepared and approved layout plan GE98 for Dulibadzimu West, Beitbridge, with 1,132 residential stands.
Alpha was supposed to develop 600 stands from the layout.
However, Gapare and his company allegedly unlawfully and intentionally sold 605 residential stands on the entrusted land, including stands earmarked for the 40 low-cost houses and 60 commonage stands, and converted the proceeds to personal use.
After realising the breach, the Municipality, through Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola, demanded handover of the 40 houses, 60 serviced stands and five stands sold outside the agreement, but the accused failed to comply.
In September 2023, the Municipality approached the court seeking an order barring Alpha Housing Development from selling, developing or offering for sale stands under layout GE98 without the consent of the Municipality, and the order was granted.
Despite the court order, Alpha Housing Development proceeded to sell 527 residential stands valued at US$3,990,000, bringing the total number of excess stands to 632.
The Municipality again demanded handover of the 40 houses, 60 commonage stands and 532 excess stands, or an equivalent value, but the accused failed to comply.
As a result, the Municipality suffered actual prejudice of US$4,740,000, with nothing recovered.
Gapare and his company, which is represented by Zivanai Vhimisai were arrested on September 24, 2026, and appeared before Magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba at the Beitbridge Magistrates Court.
They were remanded to October 16, 2026, on US$400 bail. Mr Willbrought Muleya represented the State.
