News / National
Man loses US$65,000 in stand scam
30 May 2025 at 09:17hrs | Views
Simbarashe Mwanandimai, a 43-year-old director of EDI Resources from Borrowdale, appeared before Harare Magistrates' Court facing allegations of defrauding a home-seeker of US$65,500 by selling a residential stand he did not legally own.
Mwanandimai was charged with fraud and granted bail of US$100 by magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo. He is expected to return to court on June 24 for further hearing.
The complainant, Mr Edwin Bako, claims he was duped in a transaction involving a residential stand located in Mandara, Harare. According to the prosecution led by Mr Takudzwa Jambawu, Mwanandimai had acquired a subdivision of stand number 124 Mandara Salisbury of Lot 5A in July 2023. The stand, measuring 1,000 square metres, was valued at US$60,000.
Mwanandimai reportedly made an initial payment of US$15,000 to the original owner, Mr Zenzo Lusengo, with an agreement to settle the remaining balance in four monthly instalments. An agreement of cession was signed between the two parties. However, before completing payment and securing legal ownership, Mwanandimai allegedly sold the same property to Bako in May 2024 for US$53,000.
Under this new agreement, Bako paid an initial deposit of US$30,000 through his lawyer, Alex Mambosasa of Mambosasa Legal Practitioners, with the balance due within a month. Despite the agreed price, Bako ended up paying a total of US$60,000 after penalties for late payment. He subsequently took possession of the stand, cleared trees, drilled a 40-meter borehole, and submitted building plans to the Harare City Council.
Problems emerged in January 2025 when Mwanandimai failed to honour his payment obligations to Lusengo, leading to the cancellation of their agreement. Lusengo refunded Mwanandimai's deposit of US$15,000 and reclaimed ownership of the stand.
In March 2025, Bako visited the stand only to find it occupied by another individual who claimed to have purchased the property directly from Lusengo. Realising he had been defrauded, Bako reported the matter to the police.
The fraudulent deal has left Bako with a financial loss of US$65,500, and no recovery of the funds has been made to date.
Mwanandimai was charged with fraud and granted bail of US$100 by magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo. He is expected to return to court on June 24 for further hearing.
The complainant, Mr Edwin Bako, claims he was duped in a transaction involving a residential stand located in Mandara, Harare. According to the prosecution led by Mr Takudzwa Jambawu, Mwanandimai had acquired a subdivision of stand number 124 Mandara Salisbury of Lot 5A in July 2023. The stand, measuring 1,000 square metres, was valued at US$60,000.
Mwanandimai reportedly made an initial payment of US$15,000 to the original owner, Mr Zenzo Lusengo, with an agreement to settle the remaining balance in four monthly instalments. An agreement of cession was signed between the two parties. However, before completing payment and securing legal ownership, Mwanandimai allegedly sold the same property to Bako in May 2024 for US$53,000.
Problems emerged in January 2025 when Mwanandimai failed to honour his payment obligations to Lusengo, leading to the cancellation of their agreement. Lusengo refunded Mwanandimai's deposit of US$15,000 and reclaimed ownership of the stand.
In March 2025, Bako visited the stand only to find it occupied by another individual who claimed to have purchased the property directly from Lusengo. Realising he had been defrauded, Bako reported the matter to the police.
The fraudulent deal has left Bako with a financial loss of US$65,500, and no recovery of the funds has been made to date.
Source - The Herald
