Inside Zimbabwe's rising real estate scams

When Nyasha, a Zimbabwean nurse working in the United Kingdom, came across what seemed like a dream investment - a residential stand in Ruwa advertised in a WhatsApp group - she believed she was finally securing a home back in Zimbabwe. The agent sounded professional and convincing, assuring her that the stand was genuine and properly serviced. There was, however, one condition: she had to pay a deposit before the weekend to avoid losing the deal.

Eager not to miss out, Nyasha transferred US$6 000. By Monday, the WhatsApp number had been deactivated, and both the money and the agent had vanished without a trace.

Nyasha's case is one of hundreds emerging across Zimbabwe as real estate scams grow more sophisticated, targeting both local and diaspora buyers desperate to invest in property amid rising demand and soaring housing prices. Fraudsters are taking advantage of social media platforms and messaging apps to lure victims with offers that appear legitimate and time-sensitive.

According to property portal Property.co.zw, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) recorded property fraud cases worth over US$15 million in 2024. This year, the ZRP's Fraud Division has already registered more than 140 cases of land sale fraud across Harare, Ruwa and Chitungwiza, signalling that property crime is not only widespread but increasingly organised.

Ruwa, one of the fastest-growing peri-urban towns, has become a major hotspot for such scams. The area's rapid development and affordable land prices have made it a magnet for home seekers, many of whom are abroad and unable to verify listings in person. Fake agents have flooded social media with offers for unapproved or non-existent stands, often backed by forged paperwork.

Chitungwiza has also become a breeding ground for fraudulent transactions, with reports of duplicated plot sales, forged receipts, and unapproved land transfers. In some cases, the same property has been sold to multiple buyers. Even established suburbs have not been spared; the long-running Mount Pleasant Heights Phase 2 saga has left hundreds of buyers stranded without title deeds nearly two decades after purchasing their stands, exposing the risks that come with unregulated developments.

Experts say the growing wave of scams is fuelled by weak land governance, corruption, and a lack of enforcement in peri-urban zones. With limited formal housing supply, buyers often turn to informal channels where due diligence is minimal. Many of the victims, like Nyasha, live abroad and rely on digital communication and scanned documents, making them easy targets for con artists.

Real estate analysts have long warned that informal land transactions dominate Zimbabwe's urban fringes, where manipulation of approvals, illegal subdivisions, and falsified documents are common. The ease of creating fake listings on WhatsApp and Facebook has made it even harder to trace perpetrators.

Property experts advise prospective buyers to verify all documents through the Deeds Office, confirm with local councils that the stands are properly serviced and approved, and deal only with registered estate agents. Payments, they add, should be made only into verified trust accounts after signing a legally binding agreement of sale.

In the current climate, they warn, any deal that feels rushed or unusually cheap is likely a scam.

For Nyasha, the lesson came at a heavy cost. Her dream of owning a home in Zimbabwe has turned into a painful reminder of how technology and desperation can collide in the wrong hands. Her experience stands as a warning to others - whether in Harare, Ruwa, or the diaspora - that in today's real estate market, trust must be earned through verification, not words.

As one analyst put it, "In 2025, the golden rule is simple - trust the process more than the price."