Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
LAND developer and director of Enhanced Mortgaging Private Limited, who is facing allegations of defrauding 34 people by selling US$162 000 worth of stands she did not own at Chiedza Park southwest of Harare, was granted bail yesterday.
Demetria Zirenga stood before Harare magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa, who remanded her on US$100 bail to May 19, pending the finalisation of investigations.
According to the State, in 2018 Enhanced Mortgaging Private Limited advertised residential and commercial stands for sale on National FM Radio.
The advertised land covered 200 hectares at Boronia Farm, Chiedza Park and there were several sizes of stand.
On January 28, 2019, Enhanced Mortgaging Private Limited allegedly entered into a memorandum of understanding with New Century Productions for the development of the 200 hectares from the farm’s 1 200 hectares.
Under the agreement, Enhanced Mortgaging was entitled to 60 percent of the residential stands and 25 percent of the commercial stands once the development was completed and certified by the relevant local authorities.
However, the State alleges that the agreement was terminated due to non-compliance by Enhanced Mortgaging Private Limited.
Despite this, Zirenga, in connivance with two other directors, her late husband Harrison Marange and Diston Matiya, who is on remand, continued advertising and selling the stands between 2018 and December 2023, knowing they had no legal title to the land.
The State further claimed that the accused persons misled 34 complainants into paying deposits ranging from US$3 000 to US$10 000, amounting to a total of US$162 000.
The victims were issued with stand allocation forms with specific stand numbers in Chiedza Phase 1B after paying off the 30 percent deposit.
Many continued to pay monthly instalments in good faith. The alleged fraud was exposed when the complainants attempted to take possession of their stands but were met with excuses.
Upon visiting Boronia Farm, they were informed by New Century Productions that Enhanced Mortgaging Private Limited had no legal authority over the land, which remains under New Century Productions’ ownership.
