Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A HARARE car dealer allegedly sold residential stands in Bluff Hill, which he had no authority to dispose of and defrauded four people of more than US$112,000.
Pearson Chinanga (39) appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa.
Lawrence Gangarahwe was prosecuting. The State alleges that Chinanga misrepresented himself as either the owner or lawful seller of residential stands which belonged to Old Mutual Property Investment Corporation (Pvt) Ltd.
Chinanga allegedly received thousands of dollars from four prospective home owners between February and August 2023 after convincing them that he was entitled to sell the properties.On the first count, it is alleged that in August 2023, a prospective buyer approached Chinanga after receiving information that he was selling residential stands.
Chinanga allegedly claimed the stands belonged to the City of Harare and that he was selling them on the local authority’s behalf.
The buyer allegedly entered into an agreement with Chinanga and paid him US$35, 000 and he acknowledged receiving the money.
It is alleged the buyer later found out that the land legally belonged to Old Mutual Property Investment Corporation. On the second count, Chinanga allegedly met another prospective buyer at Bluff Hill in February 2023 and presented himself as the lawful seller of a stand initially valued at US$35,000.
The price was allegedly negotiated down to US$28,000, which the buyer paid to Chinanga.
The fraud was discovered after the buyer was approached by Old Mutual Property Investment Corporation and was advised that Chinanga had no authority to sell the land.
In another transaction, the State alleges that a buyer paid Chinanga US$18,300 in June 2023 after he purported to be the owner of a residential stand.
On the fourth count, another prospective buyer allegedly responded to an advertisement for Bluff Hill stands posted on Facebook in August 2023. The buyer allegedly met Chinanga for a site viewing where he was shown City of Harare signage and made to believe that the land belonged to the local authority.
Chinanga allegedly received US$26,000 in connection with that transaction.
The State alleges that not even a cent paid by the four buyers was recovered.
Mathew Masinge