Couple loses over $5 000 to conman

Anesu Kurebwaseka Mutare Bureau
A MUTARE couple lost more than $5 000 to a dubious estate agent who had promised to secure them a residential stand in Fairbridge Park low-density suburb.

Stewart Mubaure of Chikanga high-density suburb is alleged to have masqueraded as a City of Mutare agent in charge of a housing project in Fairbridge Park.

Mubaure has since appeared before Mutare magistrate Mr Innocent Bepura on fraud charges. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody to August 21 for trial on $100 bail.

Prosecuting, Mr Fletcher Karombe said between August 1-31, 2016, Godfrey Mugabe and his wife, Hatikanganwe Mugabe, approached Shadreck Marange of the Zimbabwe Housing Company with the intention of buying a residential stand in one of Mutare’s low-density suburbs.

Marange introduced the couple to Mubare and told them that he was selling residential stands in Fairbridge Park. It is alleged that the couple proceeded to Fairbridge Park where they met Mubare. “Mubare allegedly told the couple that the City of Mutare would divide the land into 2 000 square metre residential stands.

He also told the Mugabes that he was selling the land on behalf of the council. “Mubare later showed the couple two other residential stands estimated to be 1 500 square metres in Greenside Extension near the Beira Corridor as alternatives. The Mugabes opted for the Fairbridge Park stand,” said Mr Karombe.

It is alleged that Mubare asked Mugabe to pay $300 as application fees for his name to be included on the City of Mutare’s housing waiting list.

It is alleged that Hatikanganwe Mugabe paid $100 through Marange’s EcoCash account, while Godfrey Mugabe paid $200 using a CABS account. “Mubare told Godfrey to pay $5 000 as soon as possible so that he could process the necessary documents required for the stand.

“Godfrey went to the accused’s house and paid the money in the presence of Mubare’s wife,” said Mr Karombe. “Two days later, the complainant paid $285 which the accused said was for land surveyors to inspect the land. Within a week, he paid another $100 for the engineers to approve the documents.”

However, the stand was never allocated to the Mugabes, resulting in them filing a police report, leading to Mubare’s arrest.