Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
FOUR officials of Heartland Housing Co-operative, who allegedly demanded a deposit of US$50 for the purchase of stands measuring 200 square metres, are now facing the music for their criminal activities.
The stands were developed on Council land in Glen View without approval from the Council.
Felix Mubonderi (60), Constance Marongedza (40), Moses Mandipa (53) and Faith Masharu (42) appeared in court yesterday and were released on US$50 each.
The bail amount is exactly the amount they were demanding from home seekers who wanted to buy stands measuring 200 square metres.
About eighty witnesses are expected to be called in to testify during the trial.
The State alleges that sometime last year, the four teamed up with two other people, who are already on remand, and hatched a plan to unlawfully develop an open space in the Tanaka area of Glen View 1 Extension, Harare.
It is alleged that they formed Heartland Housing Co-operative before advertising residential stands on the open space along the riverbank adjacent to Glen View 1 Extension. Prosecutors allege the group went on to construct houses and roads on the land before pegging residential and commercial stands for themselves and other prospective home seekers.
The four allegedly approached home seekers and demanded an initial deposit of US$50 towards the purchase of residential stands measuring about 200 square metres.
Those who paid were allegedly issued receipts and application forms bearing the name Heartland Housing Co-operative.
The State alleges that the land belonged to the City of Harare and that the co-operative had no authority from the local authority to develop, allocate or sell the stands.
According to the State, the alleged scheme was carried out between 2024 and 2026.
Investigators also indicated that they expect to call about 80 witnesses in the case.
