Zim man accused of stealing from the landlord in Botswana clears his name

A 40-year-old man from Harare in Zimbabwe currently based in Botswana who is accused of theft and fraud on social media by his landlord has come out to defend himself.

Clifford White was last week all over Facebook as a conman who swindled people of their belongings.

His landlord Thalitha Moutloatse made a public appeal alleging that her tenant White sold her property without her concern before skipping the country to South Africa.

Moutloatse who described herself as a businesswoman based in Gaborone accused White of having stolen sofas, fridge, baby court and stove at her house in Boronyane ward.

"He rented my fully furnished house but he decided to steal my goods and sold them because he knew I am far from Maun."

Moutloatse said that her tenant who has a business company called Lycans also disappeared with her P50 000 for a job he did not do.

She said that White was supposed to construct and pave a wall at her car wash before he could occupy the plot but he did not do that.

She alleges that White used the car wash space before carrying out those developments.

"I paid her for the whole project but he did half of the job."

The 36-year-old woman made a plea to help track White who she described as a smooth talker who was is good at swindling people.

She even warned people not to do business with him as he is a conman.

The news spread fast with some people confirming that he used to sell house goods on social media claiming to be relocating overseas.

"It is easy for you to fall for any word he says," she said.

But White has since dismissed allegations against him as lies.

He denied stealing property from his landlord.

"I admit having taken and sold her fridge, stove and sofas because I advised her that should she fail to pay me for development at her plot I would sell those goods. I did the car wash and ablution block which she failed to pay for."

He explained that he was forced to terminate their lease agreement due to the delay on the landlord's part.

"There were documents needed for me to obtain a licence and it did cost me a great deal of money. She played hide and seek with me but I am not that person."

He said that he was looking for Moutloatse to clear up his name or he will take him to court.

"She will pay for tarnishing my name with lies," he added.

Maun Police Station Commander Superintendent Peter Gochela said the case of White stealing property from the house was never reported to at his station.