Source: Dzehonye, Mabhena want probe into US$161k stands fraud claims – herald

Engineer Phakamile Mabhena Moyo

Herald Correspondent

HARARE City Council Principal Housing Director Edgar Dzehonye and former Town Clerk Engineer Phakamile Mabhena Moyo have lodged a formal petition with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate allegations that they were involved in a US$161 000 commercial stands fraud case.

In court papers, the accused persons, Desmond Rutsito (42) and Leeroy Manyange (28), implicated the two top council officials.

However, in separate letters addressed to the ZACC Chairperson dated June 25, 2026, the duo’s legal representatives, Tsunga Bamu Law International, vehemently denied claims that the officials are on the run or involved in the alleged syndicate.

“Our client [Dzehonye] is not at large. He voluntarily presented himself to the police and cleared his name,” the lawyers stated, adding in a separate letter that Moyo is equally compliant and “is not at large.”

The legal documents completely distanced the directors from both the co-accused and the buyers — including Calisto Murambasvina of Haider Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd and Munyaradzi Chikusvu — who claim they were swindled.

According to the letters filed with ZACC: “He has no association with, and does not know Desmond Rutsito (42) and Leeroy Manyange (28), 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.”

Dzehonye’s defence team also noted a critical administrative contradiction in the State’s case, arguing that as the head of housing, “he is in the Housing Department, which does not in any way transact in commercial stands,” and therefore, “did not and could not have issued any lease relating to a commercial stand.”

Labelling the accusations as “defamatory, false and vile,” the defence requested that ZACC immediately track down the sources of the misinformation to protect the integrity of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.

“We urge you to initiate the investigations so requested so as to prevent abuse of the police as an organisation, as well as protect our client and the general public from falling harm to rogue elements who deliberately mislead the police by supplying them with false information,” the lawyers added.

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