Harare, (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested former police officer Absolom Mudzamiri for allegedly defrauding a Harare woman of US$9 000 in a residential stand sale.
In a statement, ZACC said the complainant, whose husband works in Botswana, responded to a Facebook advertisement in December 2023 for a residential stand in Budiriro high density suburb.
Posing as the owner, Mudzamiri facilitated an agreement of sale which his lawyer, Milton Serima drafted.
The complainant reportedly paid US$8 500 for the stand, together with additional fees totalling US$9 000.
In July last year, the complainant and her husband visited the stand and discovered unauthorized construction.
They confronted Mudzamiri, who promised reimbursement but failed to follow through.
The matter was reported to ZACC, which found that the land in question belongs to the Harare City Council.
Mudzamiri is expected to appear soon at the Harare Magistrate Court.
In a related development, a 30-year-old land baron has been sentenced to an effective 24 months in prison for defrauding desperate home seekers of over USD 16 670 in a fraudulent residential stands scheme.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), in 2022 and 2023 the accused, Godwin Khulame, exploited the burgeoning demand for housing by advertising non-existent residential stands in Nyabira, about 34 km north-west of Harare on the main road and railway line from Harare to Chinhoyi.
Using social media platforms, primarily Facebook and WhatsApp, his scheme targeted both local buyers and Zimbabweans in the Diaspora, promising them prime plots of land that he had no authority to sell.
Desperate for affordable residential stands amidst a ballooning housing backlog, many unsuspecting victims fell prey to Khulame’s false promises, paying thousands in deposits and instalments.
Unfortunately, once the payments were made, victims soon discovered the harsh reality that their dream homes were nothing more than a mirage, as Khulame had vanished without a trace, leaving them with significant financial losses.
During the trial, the court found Khulame guilty on four counts of fraud under section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The presiding judge noted the “egregious nature” of Khulame’s actions, emphasizing the betrayal of trust involved in exploiting vulnerable individuals seeking homeownership.
Nothing was recovered from Khulame’s fraudulent scheme.
New Ziana