Man loses US$20k to land dealer
A man from Chitungwiza has appeared in court for allegedly duping an unsuspecting home seeker of US$20 000 by selling him a stand that belonged to someone else.
Tendai Desmond Zhakata (43) appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Munashe Chibanda charged with fraud.
He is in custody pending bail determination.
He allegedly duped Mr Zakariya Sapa.
The State alleged that this month, Zhakata placed an advert in a local newspaper purporting that he was the owner of a vacant stand 13720 Belvedere, Harare, measuring 1 973 square metres valued at US$35 000.
Acting on the misrepresentation, Mr Sapa got in touch with Zhakata citing his willingness to purchase the property.
Zhakata lied that his name was Lawrence Mukumborenga, who is the actual owner of the property, and confirmed that he was selling the stand, as such he wanted a deposit of US$20 000 to be paid upon signing of an agreement of sale.
The outstanding balance of US$10 000 was to be paid upon obtaining the capital gains certificate from Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and the other US$5 000 to be paid in 10 months in equal instalments of US$500 a month starting from July 10 this year.
The court heard that Mr Sapa agreed to the terms of payment and engaged a law firm to do the conveyancing.
A lawyer, James Nhandare, then visited the Registrar of Deeds Office for verification, and discovered that the title deeds were in the name of Mukumborenga.
On June 22, Mr Sapa met Zhakata who was in the company of a woman only known as Florence at Muhlohlo legal practitioners in Belvedere, Harare.
Zhakata produced national identification particulars in the names of the real owners of the stand as well as a purported original title deed in those names.
Consequently, Mr Sapa handed over US$20 000 cash to Zhakata as deposit towards the purchase of the stand and the parties signed the agreement of sale and agreed to meet the following day at Zimra office for processing capital gains tax forms.
Zhakata became evasive, prompting Mr Sapa to file a report with the police that led to his arrest.
-Herald-
