Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – A Bulawayo woman has lost over US$6 000 to a real estate agent after being sold a residential stand in Upper Rangemore that had already been allocated to someone.
Bulawayo province police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident, saying law enforcement agents were looking for Jacob Ratabwa, who has been operating as a housing agent in the city.
“We are investigating a case where a local woman, aged 27, was defrauded of US$6,350 by an unscrupulous real estate agent. The suspect is currently on the run,” Msebele said.
The incident took place on January 26, 2025, around 2 PM, when Ratabwa accompanied the complainant to Upper Rangemore to showcase available stands for sale.
Upon arrival, the complainant is reported to have selected a 250-square-metre stand priced at US$6,250. “The following day, she paid a cash deposit of US$1,400 to Ratabwa.
She paid an additional US$4,950 in various payments and an agreement of sale for the stand was signed.
“However, on January 25, 2025, the complainant visited the stand she believed she had purchased, only to discover that a foundation had been dug on the property.
“She approached a neighbour who informed her that the stand actually belonged to someone else residing in South Africa,” said Msebele.
After contacting the legitimate owner, the police spokesperson further said, the complainant learned that the stand was indeed not for sale.
“When she confronted Ratabwa, he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the situation.
“A police report was subsequently filed, but the suspect remains at large, with the total amount defrauded standing at US$6,350 and nothing has been recovered,” she said.
Msebele urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with real estate agents and to verify their authenticity before entering into any agreements.
“Police would like to remind members of the public to be vigilant when engaging with agents. Always verify the legitimacy of individuals before conducting transactions to avoid significant financial losses. We also appeal to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect to report to the nearest police station,” Msebele advised.
New Ziana
