Deeds official arrested over school row

Primary School.
The school has been at the centre of an ownership wrangle pitting Unitime Investments (PVT) Ltd and Release Power Investments (PVT) Ltd. The row saw lessons being disrupted in May this year when the second term began as the two parties fought over ownership of the premises.

Ellen Mawire, who is being charged with criminal abuse of office, is alleged to have caused the dispute after she allegedly issued the warring parties – Unitime Investments (PVT)Ltd and Release Power Investments (PVT) Ltd – with separate deeds.
Herentals College – who are running the school – reportedly bought the buildings and land on which the school is built from Unitime Investments.

Chief Registrar of Deeds Mr Fidelis Maredza yesterday confirmed the arrest.
“It’s true one of my officers was arrested yesterday and is detained at Harare Central Police Station on the allegations of the title deeds. I am still trying to figure what really transpired because I was out of office when she was picked up. I will give you more information after I have gathered the details,” he said.

Sources said police picked Mawire in connection with the Cold Comfort Primary School saga. She is alleged to have written a letter misrepresenting facts and undermining the ownership of Unitime Investments and favouring Release Power and stated that it was possible for two deeds to exist on the same property. Unitime Investments has declared that they own the property as per Title Deed Number 3410/2009.

Release Power Investments also claims to own the same property through Title Deed Number 4873/2009. The school is built on Stand Number 7953 Tynwald Township of Stand Number 7739.
Uni-time Investments, however, argues that they exercised their right as owners of the title to sell the property to Herentals College.

“The ownership claim by Release Power Investments (PVT) Ltd is not supported by a title deed and Release Power Investments (PVT) should be brought to task as to how they ended up with such a claim,” claimed Unitime Investments.

The company also accused Mrs Mawire of attempting to issue a second title deed to Release Power Investments. It also claims that Mrs Mawire is failing to produce a copy of the title deed owned by Release Power Investments.