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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
A United Kingdom-based woman yesterday brought her 32-year-old son to court for selling a residential stand worth US$25 000 that she had entrusted him to buy for her.
Kudzanai Dhumukwa (32) of Mbare National in Harare appeared before a Harare magistrate facing theft of trust property charges.He is expected back in court on August 15 and is out of custody on US$100 bail.

As part of his bail conditions Dhumukwa was ordered to report every Friday to CID Serious Fraud Squad and not to interfere with State witnesses.

The complainant in the matter is Dhumukwa’s mother who is based in the United Kingdom where she works as a healthcare assistant.

Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that sometime in 2006 after making substantial savings, the mother sent Dhumukwa and his brother money to buy her a residential stand.

The mother allegedly agreed with her sons that although the stand was hers, they would register it in their names. It is alleged that on February 26, 2010 the mother paid the last instalment for stand number 3857 Rockview Park in Epworth to Shelter Incorporated (Pvt) Ltd.

Dhumukwa, however, was allegedly not truthful with Shelter Incorporated (Pvt) Ltd that he was buying the stand on behalf of his UK based mother.

It is alleged that after completing payment on behalf of his mother he was given a clearance letter to register the stand with the Epworth Local  Board.

Dhumukwa allegedly sold the stand to Simbarashe Manhovo through Ruwa Properties Estate Agents for US$16 000 sometime in November 2013 without his mother’s knowledge.

The mother lost ownership and control of the stand valued at US$25 000 and nothing was recovered.