Six alleged fraudsters, including a ringleader implicated in the Dzingai Mutumbuka house scam, appeared at Harare Magistrates Court yesterday.
They stand accused of orchestrating the fraudulent sale of a property in Borrowdale, which fetched US$92,000 despite its market value being US$400,000.
Prosper Bizwork, identified as the mastermind in the Mutumbuka case, continues to lead the syndicate, operating under the guise of managing property number 589 in Rietfontein Township of Lot 15 Harare, owned by Octavious Chikonyora and Precious Danda.
The suspects, Eric Dube (39), Tedious Marufu (47), Amos Chisvo (43), Samson Mushayi, and Patience Nhope (46), were apprehended by ZACC investigators within two weeks, after the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) failed to make any progress over four months.
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Allegations have surfaced that ZRP officers accepted US$7,000 to overlook the case, with an initial demand of US$20,000. The ZRP’s final report claimed the suspects were unknown and untraceable.
ZACC investigating officer Eric Chacha informed the court that the syndicate is linked to the fraudulent sale of ten other properties. The conveyancing process for the property in question was handled by TK Hove and Partners, with one of their clerks, Mushayi, among the arrested.
Mushayi stands accused of fabricating a duplicate title deed, coordinating Zimra interviews for property transfer, and hosting meetings at his office.
Despite the buyers’ preference for their conveyancer, the syndicate insisted on using TK Hove, justifying the low price of the property by falsely claiming the owners were divorcing.
Bizwork facilitated the creation of fake identity cards for Patience Nhope and Collen (currently evading capture), who posed as the property owners in dealings with Zimra and the buyers. Eric Dube, under the alias Raphael Dube, advertised the property.
Bizwork was scheduled to appear in court for the Mutumbuka case, which was postponed. The property owner only became aware of the deal when a neighbor inquired about the sale, noticing new occupants moving in.
Chacha argued against bail for all six defendants, citing the gravity of the charges and the risk of flight, noting the syndicate’s focus on properties owned by those in the Diaspora.
In another instance, Bizwork allegedly sold Mutumbuka’s Chisipite house valued at US$600,000 for US$45,000.
