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Freeman Razemba Crime Reporter
The High Court has provisionally accepted claims from thousands of people who lost more than US$4,7 million, R800 000, P10 000 and 140 British pounds to McDowells International Properties, which went bust after collecting the money which it promised to pay back to investors with interest.
A list of various claims which were accepted by the court was published in a local newspaper this week by provisional judicial manager Mr Winsley Evans Militala following a meeting held on February 19.
Scores of individuals, organisations and churches lost money to Mcdowells.
Among them are the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (Zaoga), AFM Zimbabwe, Reverend Rangarirai Chatikobo, Pastor T Chiweshere, the National Employment Council for the Catering Industry, Moving Star Investment Group, Old Mutual Life Assurance Company and First Mutual Investment Company.
Messenger of Court and Masvingo Deputy Sheriff Elizabeth Jaricha, City of Masvingo, Chivi Better Schools Programme, Masvingo Pharmacy and Mcdowells’ employees invested various amounts with the firm.
Mr Militala said: “A few creditors requested for their names not to be published. Those were left and must approach our offices on the status of their claims.
“Any creditors who may have queries on their claims should approach our offices for verification with company records.
He said that the provisional manager or the Master of the High Court were not the source of the composite current final list that was published yesterday.
Last month, Zaoga took McDowells International Properties to the High Court claiming US$1,5 million the church invested with the company between 2010 and 2012. At least 21 other claims against McDowells had flooded the High Court, prompting the registry to group the matters for convenience.
The High Court registry is in the process of compiling all the related claims so that they would be dealt with at once.
Zaoga’s provincial and district churches countrywide deposited various amounts of cash with McDowells, which was in the business of money lending.
In June 2012, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe cancelled the financial institution’s money lending licence and many investors demanded their money back.
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