adminTendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
Former Chitungwiza mayor Philimon Tawengwa Chipiyo appeared in court last week on allegations of swindling a home seeker of more than $7 000 in a botched stand deal.
Chipiyo (76) allegedly connived with Vincent Didmus Tom Baris (53) and sold Real Rachel Mhike’s stand to Jeremiah Chiraya for $7 300 on the pretext that it was Chipiyo’s stand.
Baris and Chipiyo appeared before magistrate Mr Elijah Makomo charged with fraud.
They were represented by Mr Emmanuel Samundombe and were remanded to June 11 on $150 bail. The prosecutor Ms Venencia Mutake, alleged that on July 24 last year, Baris connived with Chipiyo and hatched a plan to sell a residential stand situated at number 20438 Unit G extension, Chitungwiza which had not been developed.
The stand belonged to Mhike, who had died on September 26, 2001. It is alleged that Baris approached Chiraya, who wanted to buy the stand and misrepresented that it belonged to Chipiyo. Chiraya, the court heard, was accompanied by Baris for viewing of the stand and he was satisfied with it.
He was then ordered to pay $7 300 for the stand which he paid to Baris at Chitungwiza Town Centre on the same day.
On July 25, Baris accompanied Chiraya to Chipiyo’s house and Chipiyo confirmed receipt of the money for the stand. It is further alleged that Chiraya later approached Chipiyo and sought permission to develop the stand before the change of ownership and the permission was granted.
It is the State’s case that Chiraya built his house and started staying at the stand.
The matter came to light sometime in January this year after Chiraya was approached by Mhike’s executor, Trevor Godzongere.
Chiraya made a report to the police, leading to the arrest of Chipiyo and Baris.
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