News / Local
Land barons in court for US$419 500 fraud
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Two suspected land barons, Lillian Chitanga and Spencer Maibeka, directors of Brickstone Builders and Contractors (Pvt) Limited, appeared in court yesterday facing allegations of defrauding 16 prospective home seekers of US$419 500 through botched residential stand deals.
The pair appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa, who remanded them out of custody on US$400 bail each to October 14 for routine remand.
According to State prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, the alleged scam began in April 2022 when the two unlawfully occupied Stand 19156 Salisbury Township Lands, a municipal plot owned by the City of Harare. The land was subdivided into residential stands ranging from 1 000 to 4 000 square metres.
Chitanga and Maibeka allegedly partnered with a local development company, granting it authority to sell the stands on behalf of Brickstone Builders. Between April and November 2022, the development company sold four stands, remitting proceeds to Chitanga, who drafted and signed the agreements of sale. During the same period, Chitanga personally sold 12 additional stands under similar terms.
Believing they had lawfully purchased land, the complainants began constructing homes. However, in 2023 Harare City Council officials demolished the structures, declaring the buyers had illegally occupied council land. When confronted, Chitanga allegedly became evasive, offering no meaningful assistance.
The complainants were left nursing losses amounting to US$345 500, with no recoveries made.
In a separate case, Chitanga and Maibeka are accused of defrauding another group of 16 land seekers in Ridgeview, Belvedere, of US$74 000 through a similar scheme.
Chonzi told the court the duo engaged in a systematic pattern of fraud, exploiting the desperation of home seekers and unlawfully selling council land.
The case has reignited concerns over the prevalence of land scams in Harare, with residents and legislators repeatedly warning that desperate home seekers remain vulnerable to syndicates masquerading as legitimate developers.
The pair appeared before Harare magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa, who remanded them out of custody on US$400 bail each to October 14 for routine remand.
According to State prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, the alleged scam began in April 2022 when the two unlawfully occupied Stand 19156 Salisbury Township Lands, a municipal plot owned by the City of Harare. The land was subdivided into residential stands ranging from 1 000 to 4 000 square metres.
Chitanga and Maibeka allegedly partnered with a local development company, granting it authority to sell the stands on behalf of Brickstone Builders. Between April and November 2022, the development company sold four stands, remitting proceeds to Chitanga, who drafted and signed the agreements of sale. During the same period, Chitanga personally sold 12 additional stands under similar terms.
The complainants were left nursing losses amounting to US$345 500, with no recoveries made.
In a separate case, Chitanga and Maibeka are accused of defrauding another group of 16 land seekers in Ridgeview, Belvedere, of US$74 000 through a similar scheme.
Chonzi told the court the duo engaged in a systematic pattern of fraud, exploiting the desperation of home seekers and unlawfully selling council land.
The case has reignited concerns over the prevalence of land scams in Harare, with residents and legislators repeatedly warning that desperate home seekers remain vulnerable to syndicates masquerading as legitimate developers.
Source - The Herald
