Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
A DESPERATE attempt to make an extra dollar out of selling State land has landed a sitting Makoni councillor in hot soup after he was arraigned before Mutare Magistrates’ Court for fraud.
Washington Mukweva (35) of Plot 20, Nyahukwe Village, Ward 20, Rusape appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Honest Musiyiwa to answer fraud charges as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, (Chapter 9:23).
Ms Sandra Mlambo prosecuted, while Mukweva was represented by Mr Taurayi Khupe of Khupe and Majamanda Law Chambers.
Mukweva, who is an elected councilor for Ward 20 under Makoni Rural District Council, was remanded to April 17 on US$100 bail.
Ms Mlambo said the fraud charges against Mukweva stemmed from an incident in which Mrs Ebbah Nechiora was tasked by her son-in-law, Mr Simbarashe Oscar Nyabunze (then based in the UK), to facilitate the acquisition of land in Zimbabwe for his mother, Ms Tafadzwa Hellen Matseyengwa, and a relative, Ms Naume Masvikeni.
The happened sometime in 2024.
Mrs Nechiora approached Mukweva, who misrepresented that plots were available in Nyahukwe (Village C, Gwindingwi Resettlement).
He subsequently conducted a site visit with her to demonstrate the land’s availability.
The court heard that following this, the complainants entered into direct negotiations with Mukweva.
While the initial asking price was US$3 500 per plot, they successfully negotiated a reduced fee of US$2 900 for each five-hectare plot.
On July 21, 2024, the victims allegedly remitted US$2 500 and US$2 000, respectively, via CBZ Mukuru Remit to Mrs Nechiora, who delivered the cash to Mukweva.
On August 24, 2024, Tafadzwa Hellen Matsenyengwa sent a balance of US$400 to Mrs Nechiora for onward payment to Mukweva.
The court heard that on August 26, 2024, Ms Masvikeni settled her outstanding balance of US$900.
Ms Mlambo told the court that upon receipt of the funds, Mukweva provided Mrs Nechiora with documents he purported to be official land permits for Plots 109 and 112, Village D, Gwindingwi.
In September 2024, the court heard, Mr Simbarashe Nyabunze returned to Zimbabwe and, after a site visit led by Mukweva, commenced development on the land.
However, these activities were halted by third parties claiming lawful ownership, resulting in a forced eviction.
When confronted, Mukweva offered alternative land, which Mr Nyabunze rejected due to the substantial losses that had been incurred.
The court also heard that in September 2025, Mrs Nechiora presented the permits to the Ministry of Lands for verification, where they were declared fraudulent.
When challenged, Mukweva maintained the legitimacy of the deal and produced supplementary documents, allegedly signed by Chief Makoni, to regularise the allocation.
Ms Mlambo said Mr Nyabunze filed a formal report with Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on March 23, 2026, and investigations confirmed that the permits were forged, and that the accused had no legal authority to alienate State land.
The complainants acted on the misrepresentation that Mukweva was selling plots and facilitating permits for the aforesaid plots.
As a direct result of the accused’s actions, the complainants suffered prejudice in the total amount of US$5 800.
Ends
