News / National
Bunjira in bank loan fraud
20 Jun 2015 at 14:09hrs | Views
A POPULAR Mutare businessman - Davison Bunjira - who owns BBC Hardware Wholesale is embroiled in a house-loan scandal in which he allegedly fraudulently acquired a bank loan using title deeds of a posh house belonging to his uncle.
The house was expected to be auctioned recently after the businessman failed to repay the $50 000 loan he obtained from Ecobank Zimbabwe.
Bunjira's uncle, Absolom Mawanza, the director of Omnifarm that owns the property has now approached the courts in a bid to stop the sale of his house which he claims was used as security to get the loan behind his back.
In an application for rescission of default judgment filed at the Mutare Magistrates' Courts on May 15, 2015, Mawanza stated that investigations by his lawyer revealed that Bunjira had obtained a bank loan and used his title deeds to House No 5 Blesbok Ave, Murambi, Mutare as security for the loan by fraudulently purporting to be acting on his behalf.
He argued that he was never aware that a loan had been obtained using his house as collateral and only became aware of the matter when Bunjira's wife alerted him that the house was to be auctioned.
"I am related to Davison Bunjira in that he is my nephew. His mother is my sister. I used to reside at the house in question with my family until 2004 when I relocated to Masvingo. Bunjira approached me with a desire to purchase the property. I discussed the matter with my wife and we agreed that Bunjira should secure finance first before we could consider the sale of the property to him. He then indicated that he needed the title deeds to the house to assist him in his quest for mortgage finance. I gave Bunjira the title deeds to the house. At the time we had not agreed that he had purchased the house, but that he was going to look for mortgage finance first and then we would consider the sale."
Mawanza said Bunjira then pleaded with him to allow him to occupy the house with his family.
"I, together with my wife agreed to allow him to occupy the house on condition that he was to service the utilities and service bills and charges for the property. He took occupation of the house. At some stage, he advised us that he was failing to secure mortgage finance and also to raise any substantial amount he could offer to us. I understood his position because then the Zimbabwean economy was unstable. We, however, allowed him to continue occupying the house with the hope that one day his fortunes would turnaround and he would be able to purchase the house. I, however, made an error of judgment by not collecting the title deeds from him."
Mawanza said he only got to know that his house was on sale after Bunjira's wife contacted him.
"I received a call from Bunjira's wife advising me that my house was going to be sold by the Messenger of Court because of a debt Bunjira owed to a bank. I was shocked and dismayed. Bunjira's wife did not have the full details of the matter, but she was concerned that the house was to be sold. I tried to phone Bunjira for an explanation, but he was not picking my calls. I travelled to Mutare and engaged my lawyers to investigate the matter.
"My lawyer's investigations revealed that Bunjira either acting alone or with some other people had obtained a bank loan from Ecobank and had used my title deeds as security for the loan. Further investigations revealed that Bunjira had fraudulently purported to be acting for and on behalf of me. This was criminal . . . my lawyers are looking into the matter and mooting the idea of a criminal report against him.
"It is clear from the above that Bunjira criminally abused my relationship with him and my trust. His mischief did not end there. It would appear he failed to service the loan he obtained from the bank and summons were issued against him.
"He was served with the summons on his own behalf and purportedly on my behalf . . . and did not disclose this (information) to me or anyone. He sought to hide this information perhaps to conceal his obvious fraud."
Mawanza further stated that he was never aware of any court processes against him or that a loan had been obtained using his house as collateral.
When contacted for comment Bunjira professed ignorance over the issue.
"What are you talking about? Which house? Who brought that story to you? Let me phone around and see who is behind this. I will contact you as soon as I have details," he said.
The house was expected to be auctioned recently after the businessman failed to repay the $50 000 loan he obtained from Ecobank Zimbabwe.
Bunjira's uncle, Absolom Mawanza, the director of Omnifarm that owns the property has now approached the courts in a bid to stop the sale of his house which he claims was used as security to get the loan behind his back.
In an application for rescission of default judgment filed at the Mutare Magistrates' Courts on May 15, 2015, Mawanza stated that investigations by his lawyer revealed that Bunjira had obtained a bank loan and used his title deeds to House No 5 Blesbok Ave, Murambi, Mutare as security for the loan by fraudulently purporting to be acting on his behalf.
He argued that he was never aware that a loan had been obtained using his house as collateral and only became aware of the matter when Bunjira's wife alerted him that the house was to be auctioned.
"I am related to Davison Bunjira in that he is my nephew. His mother is my sister. I used to reside at the house in question with my family until 2004 when I relocated to Masvingo. Bunjira approached me with a desire to purchase the property. I discussed the matter with my wife and we agreed that Bunjira should secure finance first before we could consider the sale of the property to him. He then indicated that he needed the title deeds to the house to assist him in his quest for mortgage finance. I gave Bunjira the title deeds to the house. At the time we had not agreed that he had purchased the house, but that he was going to look for mortgage finance first and then we would consider the sale."
Mawanza said Bunjira then pleaded with him to allow him to occupy the house with his family.
"I, together with my wife agreed to allow him to occupy the house on condition that he was to service the utilities and service bills and charges for the property. He took occupation of the house. At some stage, he advised us that he was failing to secure mortgage finance and also to raise any substantial amount he could offer to us. I understood his position because then the Zimbabwean economy was unstable. We, however, allowed him to continue occupying the house with the hope that one day his fortunes would turnaround and he would be able to purchase the house. I, however, made an error of judgment by not collecting the title deeds from him."
"I received a call from Bunjira's wife advising me that my house was going to be sold by the Messenger of Court because of a debt Bunjira owed to a bank. I was shocked and dismayed. Bunjira's wife did not have the full details of the matter, but she was concerned that the house was to be sold. I tried to phone Bunjira for an explanation, but he was not picking my calls. I travelled to Mutare and engaged my lawyers to investigate the matter.
"My lawyer's investigations revealed that Bunjira either acting alone or with some other people had obtained a bank loan from Ecobank and had used my title deeds as security for the loan. Further investigations revealed that Bunjira had fraudulently purported to be acting for and on behalf of me. This was criminal . . . my lawyers are looking into the matter and mooting the idea of a criminal report against him.
"It is clear from the above that Bunjira criminally abused my relationship with him and my trust. His mischief did not end there. It would appear he failed to service the loan he obtained from the bank and summons were issued against him.
"He was served with the summons on his own behalf and purportedly on my behalf . . . and did not disclose this (information) to me or anyone. He sought to hide this information perhaps to conceal his obvious fraud."
Mawanza further stated that he was never aware of any court processes against him or that a loan had been obtained using his house as collateral.
When contacted for comment Bunjira professed ignorance over the issue.
"What are you talking about? Which house? Who brought that story to you? Let me phone around and see who is behind this. I will contact you as soon as I have details," he said.
Source - manicapost
