Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
THE trial of brothers-in-law embroiled in a US$29 million property dispute has been concluded, after Detective Sergeant
Brighton Chakanetsa took the stand.
Thomas Masango is accusing his brother-in-law, Tendai Jemwa, of unlawfully removing his name from a jointly purchased
property at 58 Spitzkop, Snake Park, Harare.
The property, acquired in 2007, has been at the centre of a bitter feud between the two, who are married to sisters.
Detective Sergeant Chakanetsa, stationed at the CID Commercial Crimes Division, testified that Masango filed a fraud and
forgery report on July 12, 2024.
Masango alleged that he and Jemwa entered into verbal business agreements in 2007, acquiring several properties, including
the disputed one.
Masango claims they agreed to register the property under Jemwa’s company, Ten Jem Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, with the
understanding that he would receive 50 percent ownership and directorship.
However, Masango later discovered that Jemwa had sold the property without his knowledge, prompting him to report the
matter to the police.
On July 16, 2024, Chakanetsa and Detective Sergeant Ndlovu visited the property and interviewed the buyer, Stanley John
Segula, who confirmed purchasing it from Jemwa.
Segula provided an agreement of sale and title deeds indicating that Ten Jem Consultants, represented by Jemwa, sold the
property to Segrup Enterprises, represented by Segula.
Jemwa was arrested on August 9, 2024, and denied the allegations, claiming he never entered into any partnership with
Masango to purchase the property.
Further investigations revealed that the property was originally owned by the late Jeremiah Chamba.
Records from the Registrar of Deeds showed that Chamba’s estate was administered at Guruve Magistrate Court, where
Cephas Chamba, as executor dative, transferred ownership directly to Ten Jem Consultants.
Chakanetsa testified that both Masango and Jemwa had jointly purchased the property from Charles Zinto, who had acquired it
from Jeremiah Chamba but had not transferred the title into his name.
The transaction involved Masango contributing a Toyota Camry registered in his name and cash equivalent to $20 million.
Conveyancer Michael Mandikumba drafted the agreement of sale.
The two handed the title deeds to their lawyer, Jingini Raphael Tsivama of Sawyer and Mkushi Legal Practitioners, to process
the ownership transfer.
However, Jemwa later collected the file containing the agreement and related documents.
High Court records under case number 3340/07 indicate an agreement of sale between Zinto and Ten Jem Consultants, which
Zinto sought to cancel.
Further inquiries into Jeremiah Chamba’s estate administration revealed inconsistencies, as the Guruve Magistrate Court
denied handling the estate.
Jemwa applied for discharge at the close of the State case before presiding Magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo and judgement will
be handed down on October 15.
