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Court Reporter
A 36-year-old Chitungwiza woman allegedly processed an identity card and title deeds of houses and stands belonging to a United Kingdom-based woman before selling the properties and pocketing over US$50 000.

Vimbai Majoko reportedly approached various estate agents and gave them the mandate to sell the properties on her behalf while purporting to be Sally Anne Bvute.

She was also in possession of lease agreements between Chitungwiza Municipality and Bvute.

Majoko had been on the run since the arrest of her accomplice Tichaona Chabata, the managing director of Status Real Estate on November 25 last year.

Majoko yesterday appeared before Mr Milton Serima charged with fraud involving US$53 860.

The prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa, alleges that on September 25 last year, Majoko posing as Bvute and acting in connivance with Andrew Bidi who is still at large, went to Southbay Real Estate and advised the agents that they were selling a house in Zengeza 3 for US$25 800.

It is the State’s case that Bidi misrepresented that he was Bvute’s brother.

The agents advertised the house and found a buyer who then paid US$25 830 and the agents took their commission and gave Majoko US$20 677.

The matter came to light when the person who had bought the house told tenants that they were now paying rentals to him.

Bvute’s relative who was responsible for collecting the rentals heard about the news and made a report to the police. Using the same method, Majoko and Bidi went to Gudwall Real Estate and asked them to sell the same house for US$15 000.

The house was sold to an interested buyer who then went to Chitungwiza Municipality to verify the title deeds.

The buyer then met with the person who had bought the house first and they discovered that they had been duped, the State alleges.

Another house seeker who was looking for a stand went to Chabata’s Estate agent and was advised by Chabata that they were selling a stand in Crowhill on behalf of Bvute.

Chabata prepared an agreement of sale and the home-seeker paid US$13 200 and was given fake title deeds by Majoko.

Using the same modus operandi, the court heard that Majoko sold Bvute’s other stand for US$9 000.