Tendai Rupapa
Court Reporter
JUDGEMENT in the case in which the deputy registrar of the High Court of Botswana is accused of fraudulently auctioning a house belonging to a Harare woman has been set for July 30.

Jacob Manzunzu (52) is facing a fraud charge involving more than US$150 000.
He allegedly committed the offence between 2000 and 2003 while he was still working in Zimbabwe as the Registrar and Sheriff of the High Court of Zimbabwe.
Prosecutor Mr Editor Mavuto is expected to file written closing submissions on July 13 seeking a conviction, while Mr Jonas Dondo, Manzunzu’s lawyer, will file his response on July 20.

Magistrate Mr Clever Tsikwa will then deliver the judgment.
The defence had intended to call the then Standard Chartered’s attorney, Mrs Sarah Moyo to testify as a defence witness, but Mr Dondo told the court she was not in a position to take the witness stand.

“Your worship the witness we intended to call is unable to come. She is not in a position to shed more light since she no longer has the file,” said Mr Dondo.
“She indicated that files are destroyed after three years hence the relevant file could have been destroyed.”
Manzunzu, who was facing two counts of fraud and corruption, was acquitted in the corruption charge on the grounds that the State had failed to prove a case against him.

Mr Mavuto alleged that Manyimo bought House Number 3 Rosedean Gardens, Ashdown Park, Harare for Z$1 900 000 from Inchdale Investments (Pvt) Ltd.
An agreement of sale was signed between Manyimo and Adelino Bento, the director of Inchdale Investments (Pvt) Ltd.

The ownership transfer was not effected since Bento had gone out of the country, it is alleged.
It is further alleged Inchdale Investments (Pvt) Ltd owed Standard Chartered bank Z$5 000 000.

In a bid to recover its money, the bank identified two of Inchdale Investments properties.
Thewe were Houses Number 1 and 22 Rosedean Gardens, it is alleged.