THE GOVERNMENT has ordered the closure of a Zanu PF party office turned night club located in Harare’s Borrowdale area following complaints of noise pollution by local residents.
Party sources said Zanu PF Harare provincial chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa has attracted brickbats from fellow party members following accusations that he allowed the building of tuckshops and a night club at party offices for private business.
Masimirembwa is already in the eye of a storm after he received a donation of vehicles for the provincial executive from fuel and mining mogul Kudakwashe Tagwirei without allegedly following party procedure.
Borrowdale Residents and Ratepayers Association filed a letter of complaint over noise pollution emanating from Zanu PF offices turned night club at number 2 along Campbell Road.
The night club in question was allegedly operating illegally as it had not been approved by the Harare City Council.
It also emerged that Masimirembwa was at loggerheads with other party officials over the night club as they questioned who was pocketing revenue from the business.
“What we have been complaining about has been exposed in another way,” a party insider said.
The Office of the President and Cabinet has since ordered the closure of Zone Gardens Night Club.
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The directive was issued by Presidential Affairs permanent secretary Tafadzwa Muguti.
Muguti issued the directive in a letter dated July 8 addressed to Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution secretary Cosmas Chiringa, Harare City Council acting town clerk Addmore Nhekairo, Propol Harare Metropolitan Province Assistant Commissioner Maxwell Chikunguru and Masimirembwa.
“I am writing to express extreme disappointment and concern regarding the blatant disregard for the menace caused at Zone Gardens Night Club despite your offices having been engaged and promised to act on the matter,” Muguti wrote.
“Zone Gardens is owned by one Blessed Charakupa. The residents have presented their case to His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa as evidenced by the attached copy of the letter.
“It is against this background that you are to look closely into this matter as we have reason to believe that this problem lies greatly within the department of development control for City of Harare and their alleged ignorance of this matter is appalling.”
Muguti said investigations proved that Zone Gardens was using a restaurant permit to operate a night club, “which has now become a menace and a breeding ground for disharmony within the community and surrounding areas”.
“I, thus, direct you to immediately rectify this menace by closing down Zone Gardens Night Club by Friday July 11, 2025 and revoke all permits issued by the City of Harare.
“Zanu PF Harare should also cancel the lease agreement that it has with Charakupa,” he said.
“I further advise that in future, the City of Harare, ZRP and the Office of the Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan province should join hands and ensure that there is order in the province while addressing all issues raised by residents from time to time with agility to avoid the escalation of such issues to the office of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.”
Mayor Jacob Mafume referred NewsDay to ward 18 councillor Rufaro Matsika on the matter.
Matsika said the City of Harare was seized with the matter.
“City of Harare is seized with the matter following all due processes and engagements and from above intervention by the President’s Office through Muguti’s office,” she said.
“All the relevant authorities are on it as instructed in the formal communication discharged.”
The matter has just opened a can of worms as Masimirembwa was allegedly set to build tuckshops at Zanu PF Machipisa offices.
