Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
TWO suspected land barons have appeared in court on allegations of defrauding 28 desperate home seekers of US$419 500k in separate botched stand deals
Lillian Chitanga (52) and Spencer Maibeka, the director of Brickstone Builders and Contractors (Pvt) Limited, appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.
The two accused were ordered to US$400 bail and advised not to interfere with State witnesses until the matter is finalised.
The accused persons were advised to return to court on October 14 for routine remand.
State prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi said sometime in April 2022, the two accused persons defrauded unsuspecting, desperate home seekers of their cash.
The court heard that the accused unlawfully trespassed into a piece of land, namely Stand 19156 Salisbury Township Lands (Municipal Plot) Registered Under Deed Grant No 10907 and also known as stands 18991-19042 Belvedere Township, Harare, belonging to the City of Harare.
During that same month, the accused subdivided council land into residential stands measuring between 1 000 to 4 000 square metres.
The duo entered into an agreement with a local development company to do road construction at the site and also mandated it to sell the residential stands on behalf of Brickstone Builders and Contractors (Pvt) Limited.
During the period extending from April 2022 to November, the local developing company sold four residential stands and handed over all the money to Chitanga, who drafted agreements of sale.
She signed on behalf of the seller, and four complainants signed on behalf of the buyers.
During that same period, Chitanga sold 12 residential stands; she drafted agreements of sale and signed on behalf of the seller, while the complainants signed on behalf of the buyers.
It is alleged that the complainants constructed some houses on the residential stands.
Sometime during the year 2023, Harare City Council Officials demolished complainants’ houses, indicating that the complainants had trespassed into council land.
The complainants engaged the accused on several occasions, but she was evasive.
As a result of the accused’s actions, the complainants suffered actual prejudice to the tune US$345 500 and nothing was recovered.
On another count the two accused allegedly duped 16 desperate home seekers who were allocated residential stands measuring between 1 000 to 4 000 square metres in Ridgeview, Belvedere, Harare.
Prosecutor Chonzi told the court that sometime during the month of April 2022, the two accused allegedly defrauded unsuspecting, desperate home seekers of their cash.
The court heard that the two suspects unlawfully trespassed onto a piece of land, namely Stand 19156 Salisbury Township Lands (Municipal Plot) Registered Under Deed Grant No 10907 and also known as stands 18991-19042 Belvedere Township, Harare, belonging to the City of Harare.
During that same month, both accused subdivided the council land into residential stands measuring between 1 000 to 4 000 square metres.
They entered into an agreement with a local developing company to do road construction at the site and also gave them the mandate to sell the residential stands on behalf of Brickstone Builders and Contractors (Pvt) Limited.
During that same period, Maibeka sold three residential and drafted agreements of sale and signed on behalf of sellers while the complainants signed on behalf of the buyers.
According to court papers the complainants constructed some houses on the residential stands.
Sometime during the year 2023, Harare City Council Officials demolished complainants’ houses, indicating that the complainants had trespassed into council land.
The complainants engaged the accused on several occasions, but she was evasive. As a result of the accused’s actions, the complainant suffered actual prejudice to the tune of US$74 000 and nothing was recovered.
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