Sundaymail Editor
FOR five long years, elusive land baron Elliot Mharadze skulked in the shadows, leaving a trail of broken dreams and empty wallets across Bulawayo.
Last week, karma finally caught up with the man who perfected the art of disappearing acts — except this time, it is his freedom that has vanished.
The fraudster, who ran a bogus construction company, Exceed Construction, was convicted of eight counts of fraud after swindling over US$56 445 and a staggering R664 000 from hopeful home-seekers.
While Mharadze painted himself as a legitimate property developer, he excelled in scamming desperate home-seekers, many of whom were diasporans returning to Zimbabwe with hopes of investing in a better future.
Tragically, those dreams were shattered when they discovered they had been duped.
Mharadze’s audacity knew no bounds, even extending to his own family.
His niece believed she was buying a residential stand and funding the foundation for a house — a modest investment of US$12 100.
Instead, she received nothing, but excuses.
If blood is thicker than water, it certainly was not enough to stop Mharadze from lining his pockets.
The court also heard harrowing testimonies from other victims who fell prey to Mharadze’s schemes. One of the most shocking stories came from Ms Phepelaphi Dube, who paid over US$10 000 for a semi-finished house in Pumula South.
With a receipt in hand, she waited patiently, only to discover someone else living in the house. Adding insult to injury, the property was not even his to sell!
Another victim, Ms Mumo Ncube, agreed to a payment plan of ZWL$9 300 and R50 000 for a house in Pelandaba West.
What did she get in return? Absolutely nothing.
The house was not built, and her money vanished like Mharadze himself.
Ms Tackler Gumbo, visiting from South Africa, trusted Mharadze with R160 000 for a residential stand.
The land, she later learned, was already registered in someone else’s name.
Another victim, Mr Tafara Dube, was duped into buying a house for R205 000, only to have the tenants inform him that someone else claimed ownership of the property.
After years of evading the authorities, Mharadze finally faced the music.
In court, his confident facade crumbled as the State, led by prosecutor Ms Siphiwe Mhlanga, presented a mountain of evidence.
Initially pleading not guilty, he changed his plea to guilty after just three witnesses testified.
Magistrate Ms Benhilda Chiwundura found Mharadze guilty of all eight counts of fraud, sentencing him to 10 years in prison.
However, the court suspended two years of his sentence on condition he did not commit a similar crime within that period.
An additional four years were suspended, contingent on Mharadze fully restituting the money he defrauded from his victims.
The man, who once sold non-existent houses, will now call a cell his home.
It is not the luxury estate he promised others, but it is where he belongs.
Online Reporter