News / National
Ex-MDC-T councillor faints in court
14 Feb 2015 at 11:56hrs | Views
THERE was drama at Rusape Magistrates' Court last week as the town's former Ward 4 councillor, Elizabeth Chidza (MDC-T), fainted following her conviction on a fraud case in which she had sold a low-density residential stand to three buyers.
Presiding magistrate Mr Shingi Mutiro was forced to adjourn the court proceedings to allow the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services officers to attend a sub-conscious Chidza.
Chidza's mother and other relatives who were in the public gallery stampeded to the accused's dock in a bid to resuscitate the fraudster.
The former councillor-turned-criminal regained consciousness around 5.20pm after a multiplicity of first aid interventions that included sprinkling cold water on her, mouth-to-mouth breathing and taking off her shoes and clothes.
Chidza is expected back in the dock next week as the court continues with her mitigation to allow Mr Mutiro to deliver his judgment.
Chidza's arrest follows a complaint by one of her victims, Ms Phillipa Chidetswa, who was swindled of $3 000 for the stand and an additional $1 500 for development work.
Ms Chidetswa bought the stand in 2011 while working in Bulawayo. After having been shown the stand and having the plans approved, Ms Chidetswa, out of trust, would gradually send money to pay the builders.
Chidza only managed to finance the construction of a few lines of the foundation and converted the large chunk of the money to her own use.
Out of greed, Chidza went on to sell the same stand to the Choga family and one Mr Claudious Mavheneke.
Ms Chidetswa noted the anomaly when she relocated to Rusape late 2013.
Efforts to get recourse proved fruitless as Chidza became hostile to the extent of barring her from developing the stand, claiming it was hers. The Chogas were paid their money back and Mr Mavheneke was later barred by the civil courts from accessing the stand.
It was not immediately clear how Chidza reimbursed him, as at one point claimed that he (Mr Mavheneke) was her boyfriend.
Ms Chidetswa resisted attempts by Chidza to refund her, insisting that the stand was hers.
This prompted her to report the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID Rusape), leading to Chidza's arrest and subsequent conviction.
Chidza was working in cohorts with disgraced para-legal Dennis Manyora.
Manyora is also a fugitive from justice on similar land scandals and drafting counterfeit agreements of sale.
Presiding magistrate Mr Shingi Mutiro was forced to adjourn the court proceedings to allow the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services officers to attend a sub-conscious Chidza.
Chidza's mother and other relatives who were in the public gallery stampeded to the accused's dock in a bid to resuscitate the fraudster.
The former councillor-turned-criminal regained consciousness around 5.20pm after a multiplicity of first aid interventions that included sprinkling cold water on her, mouth-to-mouth breathing and taking off her shoes and clothes.
Chidza is expected back in the dock next week as the court continues with her mitigation to allow Mr Mutiro to deliver his judgment.
Chidza's arrest follows a complaint by one of her victims, Ms Phillipa Chidetswa, who was swindled of $3 000 for the stand and an additional $1 500 for development work.
Ms Chidetswa bought the stand in 2011 while working in Bulawayo. After having been shown the stand and having the plans approved, Ms Chidetswa, out of trust, would gradually send money to pay the builders.
Chidza only managed to finance the construction of a few lines of the foundation and converted the large chunk of the money to her own use.
Out of greed, Chidza went on to sell the same stand to the Choga family and one Mr Claudious Mavheneke.
Ms Chidetswa noted the anomaly when she relocated to Rusape late 2013.
Efforts to get recourse proved fruitless as Chidza became hostile to the extent of barring her from developing the stand, claiming it was hers. The Chogas were paid their money back and Mr Mavheneke was later barred by the civil courts from accessing the stand.
It was not immediately clear how Chidza reimbursed him, as at one point claimed that he (Mr Mavheneke) was her boyfriend.
Ms Chidetswa resisted attempts by Chidza to refund her, insisting that the stand was hers.
This prompted her to report the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID Rusape), leading to Chidza's arrest and subsequent conviction.
Chidza was working in cohorts with disgraced para-legal Dennis Manyora.
Manyora is also a fugitive from justice on similar land scandals and drafting counterfeit agreements of sale.
Source - manicapost
