Ex-magistrate, accomplices remanded

FORMER Harare magistrate Memory Chigwaza and her two alleged accomplices, who are facing $155 000 fraud charges after they sold non-existent residential stands to unsuspecting home seekers, were last week further remanded to November 22, pending finalisation of the investigations.

Chigwaza (48), Everson Luni (38) and Davison Zvomarima (65), who appeared before magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa, are out of custody on $200 bail each.

The trio's accomplice Michael Kawanzururwa, who had been on the run, was arrested and appeared in court on Friday.

Allegations are that the trio and Kawanzururwa hatched a plan to swindle landseekers of their money and they placed an advertisement in a newspaper offering residential stands under Maizview Projects at Strathaven, selling at $25 per square metre.

Zvomarima allegedly obtained a fake identity card document in the name of Gabriel Kabanda and was made one of the directors of the purported Topmark Stationers (Pvt) Ltd Company using a fake CR14 document. The real Topmark directors are Abel Zhuwao and Rumbidzai Mapfumo.

Luni and Kawanzuruwa allegedly hired their agents, Topmark Stationers, and showed them the stands for sale in Strathaven armed with fake title deeds.

The State alleges that on September 27 this year, Sonboy Mapanzure responded to the advertisement and proceeded to Maizview offices in Eastlea, Harare and transferred $25 000 into the form's CBZ Bank account. Thereafter, he was referred to Chigwaza's offices at Chikore and Chigwaza Law Chambers where an agreement of sale was prepared by Chigwaza, who never bothered to establish the authenticity of the title deeds to the property.

It is alleged Zvomarima presented himself as Kabanda, who was representing Topmark and as a result the complainant lost $25 000.

The State alleges that on September 26, another complainant Benjamin Manungo responded to the same advertisement and paid $40 000.

On October 3, Manungo paid another $5 000 and an agreement of sale was again prepared by Chigwaza. As a result, he lost $45 000 and nothing was recovered.

It is further alleged that on October 4, third complainant Peter Manyoni responded to the advert and paid $55 000 through a transfer into Maizview Projects' bank account.

Chigwaza allegedly prepared an agreement of sale again. On October 5, again, fourth complainant Jacob Kasumba paid $25 000 and nothing was recovered.

The State alleges the accused persons received the money and entered agreements of sale with the complainants using fake title deeds. Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared for the State.