More controversy around new Borrowdale shopping mall

Posted by on Wednesday, July 18, 2012 in Corruption, ZANU PF | 6 comments

Proposed Shopping Mall to be built in Borrowdale

By Lance Guma
17 July 2012

Controversial property developer, Ken Sharpe is in the news once again over his plans to build a massive new shopping mall in Harare’s posh Borrowdale suburb.

Concern has however been raised after he was named in a leaked US diplomatic cables sent by the then US ambassador to Harare, James McGee.

In November 2008 McGee filed a cable in which he cited African Consolidated Resources chief Andrew Cranswick alleging that Sharpe, Greg Scott and Hendrik O’Neill were part of a ZANU PF syndicate looting diamonds from Marange.

Sharpe plans to build what some have called the second largest shopping mall in Africa. The ‘Zimbabwe Shopping Mall’ as it is being called is going to be built on wetlands in Borrowdale. Activists are outraged at the environmental havoc that could be created if the wetlands are destroyed.

A report by the Daily News newspaper says the building plans have not been approved by the Environmental Management Authority or the Harare City Council, while nearby residents have also fiercely objected to the project. Sharpe however is well connected in ZANU PF and appears to have bulldozed his plans through.

Last week Sharpe roped in Information Minister Webster Shamu to intimidate the Daily News, telling them not to give the project negative publicity. Sharpe’s daughter Tatiana joined the fray using her website to accuse “the negative press” of trying to “sabotage all positive steps” by ‘investors’ like her dad.

Sharpe who is said to have a Zimbabwean, British and South African passport was in July 2010 also caught in the middle of a major international spy scandal. The British intelligence agency MI5 was reported to have been probing his links to a Russian spy at the centre of an American espionage ring.

A UK Daily Mail report said the MI5 was looking at links between alleged spy Anna Chapman and the Russian-speaking Sharpe. The paper said Chapman worked with Sharpe for three years at a British registered company ‘Southern Union’ which moved millions of pounds between Zimbabwe and the UK as a ‘money transfer service.’

On the Zimbabwean side of the operation a ‘bagman’, known as Vitaly, distributed the money in cash to the recipients. When spiralling inflation began to affect the operation the syndicate began to trade in gold ingots and gems to secure foreign currency which would then make its way back into bank accounts.

The Daily Mail spoke to a former client who said: ‘We had Russians and Ukrainians running most of the business from our offices in Harare. Businesses all over Zimbabwe relied on us. We were not the only money-smugglers but we were the biggest.’

One report in the UK Telegraph said: “Mr Sharpe was introduced to Mrs Chapman by her father, Vasily Kushchenko, a former member of the KGB who was posted to Zimbabwe as a member of the diplomatic staff in Harare and now works in the Kremlin.”

September 2011 saw the launch of the re-branded wholesaler, Red Star Holdings in which Sharpe is the chief executive officer. Minister Shamu was again in the company of Sharpe at that launch, just as he was last week when he summoned editors and told the Daily News to lay off criticising the businessman.

SW Radio Africa sought comment from African Consolidated Resources chief Andrew Cranswick on his reported claims that Sharpe was part of a ZANU PF syndicate looting diamonds. Cranswick denied ever telling Ambassador McGee anything of the sort. We were also unable to get hold of Mr. Sharpe, but will continue to try to do so.

To contact this journalist e-mail [email protected] or twitter @LanceGuma

  • Chimbi Manwa

    Ken Sharpe’s behaviour on its own raised suspicions. Soon after he got “negative publicity” he rushed to Webster Shamu for protection and now its being revealed that Shamu and Sharpe have a more than cozy relationship. If Zimbabweans are not careful our politics would be determined and influenced by greedy and corrupt business people. We must’nt forget the role Tony Rowland played in Zimbabwean politics from the late 1970s and to the 1980s.Because of his close association with ZANU PF, Rowland stopped “bad” reports about the Gukurahundi massacres from being published by the British press. The likes of Ken Sharpe and Sam Pa are dangerous to both democracy and transparent governance.

    • Chimbwido Warvet

      How was it possible for Tony Rowland to stop the publication of the so-called gukurahundi massacres? We need more details Chimbi Manwa for you left your story hanging in the air without support. Back up your story to be taken seriously.

      • Chimbi Manwa

        Rowland owned the Observer newspaper group. A journalist with the group came to Zimbabwe to research on the atrocities. After compiling the story on the Gukurahundi menace the journalist went back to the UK to publish the story. Rowland got wind that a story on Gukurahundi was about to be published and he ordered that the story be not published.Rowland was clearly protecting his commercial interests in Zimbabwe and he wanted to be seen in good light by the ZANU PF leadership. The journalist made efforts to publish but to no avail as Rowland’s connections made it impossible for the publishing of the story. As a result the world was not informed of the Gukurahundi ” moment of madness” until it was too late.

        • Chimbwido Warvet

          With the details you have so ably provided, I can not check for myself on the accuracy or otherwise of your article. Many thanks, Chimbi Manwa Kachasu.

          • Chimbi Manwa

            Hello Chimbwido. Please read the book titled “Tiny Rowland: A Rebel Tycoon” by Tom Bower published by William Heineman Ltd. Roland’s full name was Roland Rowland though he was generally known as “Tiny” Roland. The guy also had associations with the Nazis.

        • Chimbwido Warvet

          I have been checking the Web with view to establishing the authenticity of your story above but it would appear there is nothing like that Chimbi Manwa. You can be helpful if you will provide the reference or better still provide an extract of the publication on this site, SW Radio Africa for those interested to read for themselves. How are about that, Chimbi Manwa.