Councillor Blessing Duma, Kasuza Caught in Explosive Land Grab Controversy
Duma rattled the Mafios Cheda commission with wayward claims submitted by his associates saying he was under the influence of Broncleer, a claim that could not be immediately ascertained by Express Mail Zim
Harare- A damning investigation by Express Mail Zim has uncovered a sprawling corruption scheme involving Councillor Blessing Duma and infamous land dealer Daniel Kasuza, implicating them in a series of unauthorized land acquisitions across Harare.
Sources familiar with the case revealed that Kasuza has been financially backing Duma—a former City of Harare employee with a checkered past—now controversially serving as a councillor.
The pair stand accused of illegally acquiring land in Hatfield, particularly on George Walker Street, by passing council approval and flouting legal procedures.
The scandal stretches into Mabvuku-Tafara, where Duma and Kasuza are alleged to have encroached on at least four locations, including the sacred Tafara Cemetery grounds—an act that has sent shockwaves through the community.
Investigative findings show the two are aggressively lobbying for the regularisation of the seized plots, despite fierce opposition from senior Harare City Council officials.
In a move seen as an attempt to deflect scrutiny, Duma and Kasuza have publicly accused city leadership of obstructing development. However, insiders claim these accusations are a deliberate smokescreen to conceal their unlawful operations.
The inquiry also links Mabvuku-Tafara District Officer Caeser Munetsi to the scandal. Munetsi is alleged to be using his position to enable the land seizures and expedite paperwork for unauthorized stands.
Duma’s rise in local politics has been anything but clean. After being dismissed from Harare’s traffic department over embezzlement charges, he has reemerged in council circles, now mired in even deeper controversy.
According to insiders, Duma is rumored to be a frequent user of broncleer, a codeine-based cough syrup, which they claim affects his decision-making and contributes to erratic behavior.
While the Harare City Council has yet to officially respond, calls are growing for a thorough criminal investigation into the alleged land-grabbing syndicate threatening the city’s land governance and heritage sites.
