The company has revealed that the title deeds for these stands have been cancelled, and the land has since reverted to State ownership.

Cancellation of Title Deeds:

The Herald reports that according to Arosume Property Development, the Carrick Creagh stands listed by Chikore in his response to Ms Mugabe’s divorce petition had belonged to three companies, with Ms Mugabe listed as a director in two. However, these title deeds were cancelled in February, and the land reverted to State ownership. Thus, the land is not available for distribution to either party in any divorce settlement.

Arosume Property Development stated that it is a private land development company in a public-private partnership with the Government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. They have also entered into a separate agreement with the Ministry of National Housing and the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe for the development of ultra-low-density housing in Carrick Creagh Estate of Borrowdale. 

The land was compulsorily acquired under General Notice 161/2006 and is therefore State land until properly transferred.

Arosume Property Development’s Statement:

In a statement released to the press, Arosume Property Development said: “It has come to our attention through the media and confirmed in the divorce papers in the matter between Bona Nyepudzai Ouma Mugabe and Simbarashe Chikore in HC1521/23 that between the two of them, they claim to own 213 794 square metres of Carrick Creagh Estate, land listed under various stand numbers in their divorce papers.”

“We confirm that we have no business interests in the vast extents (of) Helensvale land listed in Mr Chikore’s papers. The extent of land grabbing is indicative of serious unmitigated greed.”

Arosume Property Development advised the public that the two are not owners of the said stands. On 28th October 2022, the Hon Minister of Local Government and Public Works gazetted his intention to cancel title issued in favour of two companies in which Mrs Chikore is a director, Navline Investments (Private) Limited and Montshow Investments (Private) Limited.

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission:

The land development company further claimed that the transfer of land into the names of persons and companies connected to the former First Family was reported to Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission as far back as 2017, with no credible progress made to date.

“Our suggestions to ZACC that it records statements from Rhory Shawatu, who signed almost all the power of attorney documents used in these transfers or the former directors of the companies (Kumbulani Murenga and Miriam Gwekwerere) that received title, have fallen on deaf ears.”

Arosume Property Development claimed.