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Geza accusing Nyabadza of deceit, trial stalls
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Former Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) boss Basil Nyabadza delayed the start of his trial on Thursday, where he is accused of defrauding Zanu-PF central committee member and outspoken war veteran Blessed Geza of US$1.3 million in a contentious land deal.
Nyabadza, alleged to have sold Geza's land without proper authority, appeared before Harare regional magistrate Tilda Mazhande but requested further particulars through his lawyer, Tazorora Musarurwa. The defense argued that additional details from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) were necessary to enable Nyabadza to adequately prepare his defense.
Nyabadza's lawyer called for clarification on several key points, including whether the prosecution has evidence beyond the agreement of sale and how the alleged prejudice of US$1.3 million was calculated.
"Provide a breakdown of how this amount was calculated. Explain how the amount of US$1.3 million, which is the alleged purchase price of the whole of Lot 5 of Spitzkop, constitutes the prejudice suffered by Geza given that he only paid a total of US$112,000," said Musarurwa. He also demanded evidence of payments amounting to US$1.3 million, including receipts or bank statements.
The trial is now expected to commence on February 24.
According to the state, the dispute dates back to October 29, 2020, when Geza purchased a 423.504-hectare piece of land from Nyabadza for US$1.362 million. Under the agreement of sale, Geza was granted sole authority to subdivide, develop, and sell the land.
However, the prosecution alleges that Nyabadza misrepresented the property's status, claiming it had title deeds and promising to deliver them within a month. When Geza attempted to secure subdivision permits from the Department of Physical Planning in Mashonaland West Province, he reportedly discovered that Nyabadza had sold the same land to Velda Estates.
Further investigations allegedly revealed that the agreement of sale between Geza and Nyabadza had been unilaterally canceled without Geza's knowledge. Geza, who had sought an amicable resolution, was left with no choice but to pursue legal action after uncovering the fraudulent activities.
The case has drawn significant attention due to its high-profile nature and the large sums involved, with Geza accusing Nyabadza of deceit and financial prejudice. If convicted, Nyabadza faces potentially severe legal consequences for his alleged role in the controversial land transaction.
Nyabadza, alleged to have sold Geza's land without proper authority, appeared before Harare regional magistrate Tilda Mazhande but requested further particulars through his lawyer, Tazorora Musarurwa. The defense argued that additional details from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) were necessary to enable Nyabadza to adequately prepare his defense.
Nyabadza's lawyer called for clarification on several key points, including whether the prosecution has evidence beyond the agreement of sale and how the alleged prejudice of US$1.3 million was calculated.
"Provide a breakdown of how this amount was calculated. Explain how the amount of US$1.3 million, which is the alleged purchase price of the whole of Lot 5 of Spitzkop, constitutes the prejudice suffered by Geza given that he only paid a total of US$112,000," said Musarurwa. He also demanded evidence of payments amounting to US$1.3 million, including receipts or bank statements.
According to the state, the dispute dates back to October 29, 2020, when Geza purchased a 423.504-hectare piece of land from Nyabadza for US$1.362 million. Under the agreement of sale, Geza was granted sole authority to subdivide, develop, and sell the land.
However, the prosecution alleges that Nyabadza misrepresented the property's status, claiming it had title deeds and promising to deliver them within a month. When Geza attempted to secure subdivision permits from the Department of Physical Planning in Mashonaland West Province, he reportedly discovered that Nyabadza had sold the same land to Velda Estates.
Further investigations allegedly revealed that the agreement of sale between Geza and Nyabadza had been unilaterally canceled without Geza's knowledge. Geza, who had sought an amicable resolution, was left with no choice but to pursue legal action after uncovering the fraudulent activities.
The case has drawn significant attention due to its high-profile nature and the large sums involved, with Geza accusing Nyabadza of deceit and financial prejudice. If convicted, Nyabadza faces potentially severe legal consequences for his alleged role in the controversial land transaction.
Source - zimlive
