. . . He has become law unto himself
By TellZim Reporter
MASVINGO – Newly appointed Local Government and Public Works Permanent Secretary Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti appears to be a man who does not know the limits of his power, does not understand how laws are made, and acts like a king whose word is law.
Muguti has been described as someone who uses only 50 percent of his brain thereby making him unfit for public office.
Muguti is a man who believes he is more powerful than anyone, including Ministers, Permanent Secretaries of the same rank, and even local authorities.
He is a public officer who behaves like a king, issuing directives as if they were law, without thinking. His combination with his Minister, Daniel Garwe, is described by many as one of the worst ever and a recipe for disaster.
His latest controversy is a proposal to ban filming in traditional courts, which add to a string of contentious directives that have raised serious questions over the extent of his authority.
Since his days as Harare Provincial Development Coordinator, Muguti has been issuing unlawful orders, and he is credited with causing a wave of demolitions that left many people homeless during his tenure as PDC.
When he was appointed Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, he ordered a ban on tinted windows, stirring controversy before Presidential spokesperson George Charamba swiftly dismissed the directive as a miscommunication from an unauthorized office.
In January 2026, while serving in the same office, Muguti ordered Prevail International Mining Group to stop operations along the Mazowe River despite the company reportedly holding presidential authorization for river rehabilitation.
He also tried to ban the operations of NGOs, including the first lady’s Angel of Hope, unless they had registered with his office, a directive that the High Court later overturned after an urgent chamber application by the Human Rights NGO Forum.
Now, as Permanent Secretary for Local Government, Muguti wants to ban filming in chiefs’ courts, arguing that social media exposure discourages people from reporting sensitive cases.
“We should not be allowing cellphones into the chiefs’ courts where there is trying of cases in confidentiality. The moment you start filming, people with genuine problems will avoid reporting cases because they fear being publicized on social media,” Muguti said.
He said government was facilitating amendments to the Traditional Leaders Act, including provisions to strengthen disciplinary structures within the National Chiefs’ Council. “Currently the disciplinary structures are sitting outside the National Chiefs’ Council. That should not be the case. If parliamentarians can discipline each other within Parliament, surely as National Chiefs’ Council you can discipline each other within the council,” he said.
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism, with constitutional lawyer Fadzayi Mahere dismissing Muguti’s opinions as mere rants with no effect on anyone.
“In terms of section 282(3) of the constitution, traditional leaders are not subject to the control of any person or authority, including that of Mr Muguti. The permanent secretary has no power under the Constitution or under the Traditional Leaders Act [Cap 29:17] to discipline chiefs. The attempt by the permanent secretary to ‘discipline’, bully or superintend over the work of chiefs is unconstitutional and unlawful. In any event, the offence he latches onto does not exist at law. To put the matter to bed, his opinions of the procedure of local courts are not binding on anyone. They are merely rants that are of no force or effect,” reads part of the post.
Muguti’s visit to Masvingo to assess the extent of the hailstorm damage further exposed his disdain for local leadership and his tendency to act like a king.
During the meeting held at Masvingo City Council, Muguti did all the talking, barking instructions at everyone present. Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira, his Permanent Secretary Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa, and Masvingo City Mayor Alec Tabe were reduced to nothing.
Instead of sitting down and receiving a report from the three leaders, Muguti was the one doing all the talking. Dr Pazvakavambwa was not given a single chance to speak. Muguti was busy accusing the council of failing to keep the city clean despite the fact that the city had been thrown into a mess by the hailstorm.
He was ordering around everyone in the meeting, showing no respect for local leadership. He even rebuked fellow Permanent Secretaries who did not attend the meeting, questioning their availability as if he were their superior.
His visit was condemned by most local leaders in Masvingo, who felt he was acting like a Minister, a Vice President, or even the President. A minister is better behaved than what Masvingo witnessed.
He also directed Masvingo City Council to cancel licences for hardware dealers accused of hiking prices of roofing materials, windows and other building supplies following a devastating hailstorm.
A legal expert who spoke to TellZim News said a permanent secretary has no legal authority to effect binding rules.
“As per the tenets of Zimbabwe law, binding rules that affect the public can only be made by Parliament through an Act of Parliament; a Minister or President through a Statutory Instrument, but ONLY where the parent Act expressly says ‘The Minister may make regulations’ as provided in Section 134 of the Constitution on delegated legislation; or a Local Authority through By-Laws approved by the Minister. A Permanent Secretary is not listed in Section 134 as a delegatus. He/she has no original law-making power,” said the expert.
She said a permanent secretary’s roles were only administrative and can only issue internal circulars and administrative guidance.
“A Permanent Secretary is the administrative head of a Ministry, responsible for administration and implementation of policy as directed by the Minister. He/she can issue internal circulars to staff for management and administrative guidance to implement a Ministerial directive. He/she cannot issue binding directives to citizens restricting rights,” she said.
She further said local authorities can only receive directions from a minister. “Local authorities are autonomous bodies corporate under the Constitution and the Urban Councils Act. They can only be directed by the Minister, not by a Permanent Secretary. Section 86 of the Constitution Fundamental rights may only be limited by a law of general application, and the limitation must be fair, reasonable, necessary and justifiable. A circular, memo, letter, directive or press statement from a Permanent Secretary is not a law of general application. It cannot restrict rights. Such a directive is ultra vires, null and void, of no legal effect, and reviewable. Bottom line is administrative officials cannot create law by circular,” she said.
Sources who spoke to TellZim News said Muguti’s combination with his Minister, Daniel Garwe, is one of the worst ever. The two are described as pompous and overzealous for nothing. While most of Muguti’s ideas may be good, the way he expresses them is totally wrong. He seems to think he is more powerful than anyone, and he has no respect for local leadership or the law.
Political analyst Wellington Gadzikwa weighed in on social media, saying Muguti used half of his brains.
