News / National
Farmers4ED provincial chairperson up for fraud
28 Jan 2025 at 07:05hrs | Views
The Harare provincial chairperson for Zanu-PF affiliate Farmers4ED, Terai Mudzimukunze, was arraigned before the Harare Magistrates' Court on allegations of defrauding the City of Harare's chief building inspector in a failed farm deal. Mudzimukunze appeared before Magistrate Apollonia Marutya, who granted him US$200 bail. He was ordered to report to the ZRP in Chitungwiza and will return to court on February 25, 2025.
According to prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, the incident unfolded in December 2023 when Lovemore Mangena, the complainant, expressed interest in acquiring land for farming purposes. Mangena was introduced to Mudzimukunze by a mutual friend, Steven Soso, who allegedly assured Mangena that Mudzimukunze, as the provincial chairperson of Farmers4ED in Mashonaland East, could assist him in securing land in the province.
Mudzimukunze, along with Takudzwa Chigutirwa (who is reportedly on the run), took Mangena and Soso to Goromonzi near Rusununguko, where they showed them a piece of land measuring approximately 80 hectares at Bluewaters Farm. When Mangena inquired about the paperwork for the land, Mudzimukunze allegedly told him that he needed to pay an "appreciation fee" to officials at the Lands Ministry offices in Goromonzi to expedite the process of receiving an offer letter.
When Mangena expressed that he did not have the required money, he proposed to give his VW Bora vehicle, valued at US$4,500, instead. Mudzimukunze allegedly agreed to sell the car and use the proceeds to pay the government officials. Mudzimukunze assured Mangena that he would receive the recommendation letter from the Goromonzi District Lands Committee within a week.
However, a week later, when Mangena did not receive the letter, he followed up with Mudzimukunze, who claimed that the vehicle had not been sold. Investigations later revealed that the car was being used by Mudzimukunze's wife. In January 2024, Mudzimukunze allegedly told Mangena that the vehicle had still not been sold, but suggested that a payment of US$1,500 would help initiate the process.
Mangena then raised US$1,000 and gave it to Mudzimukunze. Despite continuing pressure from Mangena for the letter, Mudzimukunze and Chigutirwa reportedly became evasive and blocked communication.
When Mangena later sought clarification from Goromonzi district lands officer Benias Maziofa, who was supposedly the author of the recommendation letter, Maziofa distanced himself from the deal, stating that the letter was neither signed nor stamped by him and that the farm was privately owned by ZIMFEP and not available for allocation.
The matter was then reported to the police, leading to Mudzimukunze's arrest on charges of fraud.
According to prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, the incident unfolded in December 2023 when Lovemore Mangena, the complainant, expressed interest in acquiring land for farming purposes. Mangena was introduced to Mudzimukunze by a mutual friend, Steven Soso, who allegedly assured Mangena that Mudzimukunze, as the provincial chairperson of Farmers4ED in Mashonaland East, could assist him in securing land in the province.
Mudzimukunze, along with Takudzwa Chigutirwa (who is reportedly on the run), took Mangena and Soso to Goromonzi near Rusununguko, where they showed them a piece of land measuring approximately 80 hectares at Bluewaters Farm. When Mangena inquired about the paperwork for the land, Mudzimukunze allegedly told him that he needed to pay an "appreciation fee" to officials at the Lands Ministry offices in Goromonzi to expedite the process of receiving an offer letter.
When Mangena expressed that he did not have the required money, he proposed to give his VW Bora vehicle, valued at US$4,500, instead. Mudzimukunze allegedly agreed to sell the car and use the proceeds to pay the government officials. Mudzimukunze assured Mangena that he would receive the recommendation letter from the Goromonzi District Lands Committee within a week.
However, a week later, when Mangena did not receive the letter, he followed up with Mudzimukunze, who claimed that the vehicle had not been sold. Investigations later revealed that the car was being used by Mudzimukunze's wife. In January 2024, Mudzimukunze allegedly told Mangena that the vehicle had still not been sold, but suggested that a payment of US$1,500 would help initiate the process.
Mangena then raised US$1,000 and gave it to Mudzimukunze. Despite continuing pressure from Mangena for the letter, Mudzimukunze and Chigutirwa reportedly became evasive and blocked communication.
When Mangena later sought clarification from Goromonzi district lands officer Benias Maziofa, who was supposedly the author of the recommendation letter, Maziofa distanced himself from the deal, stating that the letter was neither signed nor stamped by him and that the farm was privately owned by ZIMFEP and not available for allocation.
The matter was then reported to the police, leading to Mudzimukunze's arrest on charges of fraud.
Source - newsday
