Grannies jailed for dead man's stand fraud

Two Harare women have been convicted of fraud after attempting to sell a residential stand in Rusape using a forged national identity card bearing details of a deceased owner.

Maria Munyonga (70) and Sekai Chirima (51), both from Ushewekunze in Harare, pleaded guilty to fraud charges when they appeared before Rusape provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe.

The pair was sentenced to 10 months in prison each, with six months suspended on condition of good behaviour for five years. The remaining four months were commuted to 140 hours of community service at Southlea Park Police Station.

Prosecutor Faith Mutukwa told the court that the case came to light after the complainant, Modester Munganasa, saw an advertisement for the stand on a WhatsApp group.

She contacted the number provided and was directed to the property, Stand Number 3240 in Magamba Extension, Rusape. However, upon visiting the site, neighbours referred her to a relative of the late owner, who confirmed the stand was not for sale.

Despite this, Munyonga later contacted Munganasa claiming ownership of the property and offering to sell it for US$13 500.

The court heard that Munyonga, accompanied by Chirima, presented a fake national identity card bearing her photograph but carrying the personal details of the deceased owner, Pheona Mukwene. They also produced a Rusape Town Council water bill and an approved building plan to support their claim.

Suspicious of the transaction, Munganasa reported the matter to police, leading to the arrest of the two women.

Investigations later revealed that the identity card had been altered and that the real owner of the stand had died in 2012. Authorities also confirmed that the supporting documents presented by the accused were fraudulent.

The case highlights ongoing concerns over property-related fraud, with authorities urging members of the public to verify ownership details before entering into property transactions.