HARARE, June 25 (NewsDay Live) – Harare City Council principal housing director Edgar Dzehonye and former town clerk Phakamile Mabhena have lodged a complaint with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) against two alleged land barons accused of supplying false information to police in a fraud case.
Through their lawyers, Tsunga Bamu Law International, Dzehonye and Mabhena said the pair deliberately misled law enforcement by linking them to an alleged fraud scheme.
“We act on behalf of our client Edgar Dzehonye, at whose instance we write,” the lawyers said in a letter to Zacc.
“Our client is the principal housing director for the City of Harare. We request that you investigate a case of deliberately supplying false information to the police, arising from an article published by Herald Online on June 25, 2026.”
The complaint stems from fraud allegations involving Desmond Rutsito (42) and Leeroy Manyange (28).
According to the lawyers, police were informed that Dzehonye was “at large” and had acted in concert with former town clerk Mabhena, Rutsito and Manyange, as well as Calisto Murambasvina of Haider Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd and Munyaradzi Chikusvu, to defraud complainants of about US$151,000.
Keep Reading
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Dzehonye’s lawyers dismissed the allegations as false.
“Our client is not at large. He voluntarily presented himself to the police and cleared his name.
“He has no association with, and does not know, Desmond Rutsito and Leeroy Manyange, and has never had any dealings with them.
“He does not know, has never met and has not been involved in any way with any of the complainants or their business representatives.”
The lawyers further argued that Dzehonye works in the Housing Department, which does not handle commercial stands, making it impossible for him to issue commercial leases.
“The allegations are defamatory, false and malicious, and unfairly tarnish our client’s reputation,” they said.
They urged Zacc to investigate the matter to prevent abuse of law enforcement processes and protect members of the public from individuals who knowingly provide false information to authorities.
Speaking to NewsDay Live, Dzehonye said he wanted those responsible held accountable.
“I want these people arrested for supplying false information,” he said.
“They have been communicating using a WhatsApp contact saved as ‘Mabhena and Dzehonye’, with our photographs attached to phone numbers that do not belong to us.”
Dzehonye also rejected claims that he was evading police.
“I am not at large. I am a public officer carrying out my duties at my Remembrance Drive office in Mbare, less than 50 metres from Zimbabwe Republic Police officers and the Mbare Magistrates Court.
“I interact with law enforcement daily and assist them on various matters.”
The matter has been recorded under case number 008671.
The complaint shines a spotlight on an emerging tactic allegedly being used by fraudsters and land barons — impersonating council officials by creating WhatsApp accounts using their photographs and fake phone numbers to solicit money from unsuspecting members of the public.