Story by Peter Chivhima, Courts Reporter
Two Suspected habitual fraudsters appeared at the Harare magistrates’ court on allegations of fraud involving US$30 000 in a botched residential stands deal.
Allegations are that sometime in June 2021, Michael Kawanzaruwa connived with one Tafadzwa Kambaja who has since been arrested and one Kurai Kambaza who is still at large and hatched a plan to defraud unsuspecting home seekers and advertised a residential stand in Mabelreign Harare.
It is alleged that the complainant Brian Kaukonde showed interest in the stand and paid US$11 800 and ZW$300 000, which he claimed was due to the Ministry of Public Works and Local government.
The court further heard that after the payment process, the complainant went to the stand site and discovered that someone was already building on the stand before reporting the matter to the police.
Investigations revealed that Kawanzaruwa was not the owner of the stand in question leading to his arrest.
In his initial court appearance on Saturday Kawanzaruwa was remanded in custody to this Monday for bail application.
In another case, Nomatter Mutenje of Harare appeared before Harare Magistrate Mrs Yeukai Dzuda on allegations of theft of trust property.
It is the state’s case that in November last year Mutenje was introduced by one Tafadzwa Mhlanga a truck driver to the complainant Tarisai Muzota as a supplier of fuel.
The court heard that Mutenje told Muzota that she had the capacity to supply her with 50 000 litres of diesel at a cost of US$45 000.
It is alleged that on the 22nd of November last year Mutenje received US$45 000, but did not deliver the fuel and since then she became evasive and this prompted Muzota to make a police report leading to her arrest.
Mutenje will be back in court this Monday for bail application.
