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Fungai Jachi Herald Correspondent
Harare magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo on Thursday blasted the State for constantly granting land barons bail and failing to consider measures to deter would-be offenders.

“I think the State should really reconsider their decision of relentlessly granting land barons bail since this offence has become prevalent,” he said.

This was after prosecutor Ms Idah Maromo had consented to the admission of bail to three land barons who allegedly fleeced home-seekers of $143 000.

Budiriro Vision Housing Cooperative chairperson Ben Shindi (43), secretary Innocent Porova (37) and treasurer Virginia Saidi (31) are facing fraud charges.

The trio was remanded to November 4 on $200 bail each.

As part of their bail conditions, they were ordered not to interfere with witnesses and to reside at the address they gave to the court.

They were also ordered to report once every week at CID serious frauds.

Allegations are that the trio formed a housing cooperative in 2011 and registered it with the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises.

It is alleged that they went on to misrepresent to 40 desperate home-seekers that they had been offered a piece of land opposite High Glen Shopping Centre in Budiriro.

The court heard that the co-operative members paid $60 each as joining fee and would pay a monthly subscription of $50.

The money was allegedly paid in the co-operative’s Stanbic Bank account.

The trio allocated residential stands to the co-operative members and some built temporary structures on the land, it is alleged.

It is the State’s case that City of Harare made a report to the police concerning the cooperative’s illegal occupation of the land.

The trio was later arrested.