Businessman arrested at airport

A Harare businessman, Elijah Meskano, was this week arrested at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport after allegedly attempting to flee the country to evade prosecution in a US$580,000 property fraud case. Meskano, 52, appeared before magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa facing charges of fraud and was granted US$200 bail. He is a director at Duravault (Pvt) Limited and denies any wrongdoing.

The complainant, Maria Mafunga of Glen Lorne, Harare, is one of the directors of Deluxe International School in Ruwa. Court documents reveal that Mafunga legally purchased her portion of stand 829, measuring 2,916 square metres, from Brighton Ushendibaba in February 2017, while Meskano acquired the remaining three portions in the same month. Between 2017 and 2022, Mafunga developed her property, constructing a triple-storey home valued at US$580,000, with all construction stages and permits duly paid for, prosecutors said.

In August 2025, Meskano allegedly manipulated ownership records, fraudulently transferring registration from Ross Farm - the original landholder - to himself and his wife. The fraud came to light in September when Mafunga received Harare City Council bills showing Meskano as the registered owner.

Acting on a tip-off that Meskano was preparing to leave the country, detectives intercepted him at the airport on September 24, 2025, before he could board his flight. The case is being prosecuted by Lancelot Mutsokoti.