Fraudulent sale of houses high in Bulawayo

A growing number of fraudulent property sales in Bulawayo is raising alarm among residents, with many unsuspecting home-seekers falling victim to scammers. Reports indicate that the city's courts are currently dealing with a surge of such cases, as fraudsters continue to deceive individuals seeking to buy homes.

The modus operandi of these scammers is described as highly deceptive. Victims are shown the same house multiple times, often under pressure to make quick payments as they are told that the property is in high demand. Fraudsters typically rent office space for a few hours to give the illusion of legitimacy and convince their targets that they are dealing with a credible property agent.

Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson, Winos Dube, expressed concern over the rise in housing fraud, urging residents to follow proper procedures when buying properties to avoid being duped.

"I advise people to follow procedure. Every land belongs to the city council here, hence they should verify with the local authority," Dube said. "At the end of the day, the local authority will be involved in the supervision of the property being bought, so it is crucial to make sure that all the details are in order before purchasing."

Thabani Ndlovu, the provincial secretary for administration at the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA), also warned the public against rushing into housing deals. He encouraged residents to seek guidance from trusted sources such as the city council or residents' associations to avoid falling into fraudulent schemes.

"It's important to ask the council and residents' associations for information on how to buy a house, especially given the upsurge in housing deal scandals," Ndlovu said. "Trusting your local leaders can help you navigate the process and protect yourself from fraudsters."

Recent court cases have highlighted the scale of the problem. Last week, a man appeared before magistrate Benhilda Chawundura on seven counts of fraud after scamming multiple victims. All the victims had paid large sums of money to the fraudster, who showed them the same house and in some cases, other people's properties. In another case, Bigboy Ncube was sentenced to 10 years in prison after forging the signature of a house owner and selling the property.

With the increase in such incidents, authorities are calling on residents to exercise caution and verify all property transactions through proper channels. For many Bulawayo residents, the message is clear: vigilance and due diligence are essential to avoiding becoming the next victim of housing fraud.