By Correspondent
In March 2021 former Chitungwiza Councillor and Deputy Mayor (ZANU-PF) Frederick Mabamba collapsed in detention at Chikurubi Prison.
He was rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival.
Mabamba died as his lawyer, Mr Tapiwa Munodawafa, was making submissions for his bail appeal at the High Court.
The death brought to an end an eventful life for a land baron who could rightly claim to own half of Chitungwiza.
Mabamba was elected Chitungwiza Cllr for Ward 25 in the 2013 elections.
However he was to be fired from his post as Deputy Mayor by Minister Ignatius Chombo in 2014.
He was removed due to allegations of corruption.
Untouchable
Prior to his arrest, Mabamba had been untouchable, allegedly getting protection from the late former president Robert Mugabe.
During his tenure as Chitungwiza deputy mayor in the early 2000s he went on a land-grabbing spree.
In 2014, an audit report fingered Mabamba as the chief land baron in Chitungwiza.
He was accused of illegally allocating more than 8 000 stands through his United We Stand Housing Cooperative.
In 2020 Mabamba caused a stir after trying to block Chitungwiza Municipality from building it’s Civic Centre on State land which he claimed as his own.
When finally arrested his docket traced criminal cases from 1999.
He was accused of abusing his office and parcelling out stands without authority, pocketing US$13 724 000.
A Vast Land Empire
He allegedly created 200 residential stands in St Mary’s suburb which he sold for US$600 000 and 230 stands on wetlands in Zengeza 4 worth US$1 058 000.
Another 57 stands in Zengeza 4 were sold for US$3 000 each.
400 stands in Unit A were also sold before he received US$44 000 for two commercial stands in Unit B.
Mabamba also created two car sale stands worth US$44 000 and pocketed the money.
It is alleged that Mabamba went on to create another 3 159 residential stands and pocketed the money.
In Unit C, Mabamba allegedly sold 120 stands, while another 120 were allocated to people in Unit N and F.
Affirming his eccentricity and bravado, one of the beneficiaries exchanged the stand for his Toyota Gaia vehicle.
Mabamba was also accused of selling 76 stands in Unit G, 211 in Unit J, 151 in Unit K and 227 in Unit L worth US$1 589 000.
In Unit N, Mabamba is said to have allocated 284 stands and created a stand for a hospital.
He allocated another 1 671 stands to his United We Stand Multi-Purpose cooperative.
He also allegedly sold 150 stands in Unit P, with the other stands subdivided to accommodate a church stand.
In all these sales of hundreds of stands, the beneficiaries were not given offer letters, according to the State.
A Man Of Controversy and Ambition
In 2013, Mabamba operating 5 schools, said he hoped to construct a university — People’s University in Africa for Sustainable Development
In 2017 Mabamba found himself at loggerheads with the famous prophet Madzibaba Wimbo.
Wimbo’s church claimed to be the legitimate lessee of a 3,4 hectare plot, Stand Number 21325 Unit A, Seke.
However, Mabamba’s, United We Stand Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, subdivided the property and allocated it to at least 92 people.
When he died Mabamba left a vast empire of wealth.
Among properties owned by Mabamba is a massive complex near Chitungwiza Town Centre, which is popularly known as “Mabamba Complex”.
He also left various properties registered under his schools — Long Range Academy, Rioboth Mission Primary and a fleet of vehicles.
However, some of his victims lodged claims to his estate for reimbursements from sour deals.
One such victim, Ezra Chidavaenzi of Greendale, lodged a claim of US$13 000 which he had paid in respect of three residential stands in Unit G, Seke.
It later turned out to be the property of Chitungwiza Municipality.
Years after his death Chitungwiza remains very much a victim of Mabamba’s sprawling tentacles with many illegal and unserviced locations.
