Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Zimpapers Reporter
A GROUP of 60 women has warned property developers, estate agents and prospective home buyers to stay away from a 15.5-hectare piece of land in Woodville, Bulawayo, which they claim is being illegally subdivided and sold without their consent.
The women — 57 based in the diaspora and three in Zimbabwe — say they bought the land in 2021 for US$410 000 with the intention of building retirement homes.
However, they claim third parties are now subdividing the property into 600-square-metre residential stands and allegedly marketing them for US$18 000 each.
Through their lawyer, Mr Vezokuhle E Ndlovu of Bukhosi Ncube Attorneys, the women have issued a warning to estate agents, property developers, investors and members of the public against dealing in Lot 7, Woodville.
According to the lawyer, the property was purchased under Title Deed Number 769/2021 and registered in the name of Qoki Zindlovukazi (Pvt) Ltd, a company belonging to Sithule Tshuma, who the women say acted as their vehicle or agent.
The women, however, dispute that Tshuma or the company owns the property in their own right.
“We, a group of women living in the diaspora and Zimbabwe, purchased this land collectively in 2021. The land was registered under Title Deed 769/2021 in the name of Qoki Zindlovukazi (Pvt) Ltd, a personal company belonging to Sithule Tshuma, who acted solely as our vehicle or agent.
“This land does not belong to Sithule Tshuma or Qoki Zindlovukazi (Pvt) Ltd in their own right, it belongs to the contributing diaspora investors. A caveat and class-action case are currently pending before the High Court in Bulawayo under case reference number HCBC 155/24 to protect our property rights and freeze any transactions on this title deed,” wrote Mr Ndlovu.
The lawyer said the women had learnt that the 15.5993-hectare property had allegedly been subdivided into 600-square-metre stands for marketing and sale without their knowledge, consent or approval.
“It has come to our attention that the 15.5993 hectare property has been further subdivided into 600 square metre stands for unauthorised marketing, selling and disposal at US$18 000 per stand without our knowledge, consent or approval.
“We strongly advise the public and real estate agencies to refrain from purchasing, marketing, or facilitating the disposal of stands from this land. Any ongoing sales constitute illegal double selling of a heavily disputed property,” he wrote.
The women also claim that they have not signed any agreements with property developers or contractors currently working on or marketing the land.
The lawyer warned that any continued development or transactions on the disputed property could result in legal action.
“We do not know you (property developers or contractors). You are considered intruders. Continued unauthorised development will result in immediate criminal and civil charges being laid against you,” Mr Ndlovu warned.
The dispute is now before the High Court in Bulawayo, with the women seeking to protect their claimed interests in the property while the legal proceedings are pending.
