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Prosper Dembedza
Court Correspondent
Citizens Legal Funeral and Finance Services founder and chief executive officer Edmore Govere has appeared in court on allegations of posing as a lawyer and defrauding an unsuspecting widow of US$7 800.
Govere appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa facing fraud charges and was granted US$500 bail.
Mrs Gofa ordered Govere to surrender his title deeds as part of his bail conditions. He will also report at the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission offices.
It is the State’s case that sometime in 2023, Mrs Lydia Dambaza lost her husband. As the executor of the deceased’s estate, she engaged Govere to assist in its distribution through his organisation – Citizens Legal Aid Society and Advisory Trust.
The court heard that Govere misrepresented to Mrs Dambaza that he was a practising lawyer.
On July 31 last year, Govere told Dambaza that US$7 800 was needed to cover Master of High Court fees.
Mrs Dambaza gave Govere the money and he issued her a receipt. It later emerged that the receipt was fake.
Govere converted the money to his own use.
The offence came to light after Mrs Dambaza visited the Master of High Court to verify the position of her late husband’s estate.
She was informed that the US$7 800 was never paid.
A report was made to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, leading to Govere’s arrest.
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