Fresh charges for businessman

Zvikomborero Parafini

Controversial businessman, Michael Kawanzaruwa, who had reportedly been on the run, appeared in court over the weekend facing fresh fraud charges.

Kawanzaruwa, who is no stranger at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts, appeared before magistrate Yeukai Dzuda.

The court heard that in June 2021, Kawanzaruwa acting in connivance with Tafadzwa Kambaja, who has already appeared in court, and Kurai Kambasha, who is still at large, advertised through Harare City Council Inspector Desmond Rutsiro that they were selling residential stands in Mabelreign.

Rutsito told the complainant, Tafadzwa Kaukonde, that there was a stand going for US$30 000, and he was interested.

Kaukonde allegedly met with Kawanzaruwa and his accomplices in July 2021 and went to view the stand.

It is alleged that Kambaza masqueraded as the owner of the stand where Kaukonde negotiated for a price decrease before the trio agreed to sell the stand for US$16 000.

He was also supposed to settle a payment of $330 000, which was due to the Ministry of Local Government.

Further allegations are that Kawanzaruwa and his accomplices took Kaukonde to his lawyers Messrs Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans in Harare CBD where Kaukonde paid US$11 800 towards the purchase of the stand.

The trio issued a receipt to Kaukonde and an agreement of sale was drafted.

The agreement was between Kaukonde and Kambaza and all the parties appended their signatures.

Allegations are that they also furnished Kaukonde with an account number they claimed belonged to the Ministry of Local Government and he deposited $330 000 which they said was the intrinsic value of the stand.

After making the payment, Kaukonde was given a receipt purportedly issued by the Local Government Ministry.

The trio allegedly also manipulated a lease agreement purportedly from the said Ministry.

Kakuonde assumed ownership of the stand and when he went there on November 3, he found someone else putting up a structure and filed a police report.

The police conducted investigations and established that Kaukonde was not the lawful owner of the stand.

Kawanzaruwa was arrested on February 10, after reports that he had been on the run since then.