Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
A MUTARE land baron and his accomplice, accused of allegedly siphoning more than US$1.3 million from a housing trust, have been granted US$1 000 bail each by a Mutare magistrate.
Wilson Masokovere (59), the Destiny of Afrika Network National Housing Projects Development Trust’s former project manager, and Temba Sauramba (68), the trust’s former provincial treasurer, were granted bail by Mr Honest Musiiwa.
The two are facing two counts of theft of trust property as defined in Section 113(2)(d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23).
Ms Sharon Chibvongodze prosecuted and opposed bail.
She argued that the two were responsible for managing various housing projects in Manicaland, and stole US$189 000 from the trust’s CBZ bank account and converted another US$1 184 449, allegedly paid by beneficiaries for intrinsic land value, to their personal use.
The offences were allegedly committed between May 2021 and July 2026.
Mr Musiiwa granted the two accused bail of US$1 000 each, with reporting conditions.
Ms Chibvongodze said Masokovere and Sauramba had previously been nominated as trustees of the housing trust and were employed in positions that gave them access to the trust’s finances and dealings with beneficiaries.
Masokovere was responsible for project membership mobilisation, record keeping, membership payments and receipting, among other duties; while Sauramba was responsible for the administration of approved payments, disbursements and banking.
Ms Chibvongodze said the accused allegedly abused their positions and diverted funds belonging to the organisation to personal use.
“The State alleges that during the period extending from 2021 to July 2026, the two hatched a plan to steal from the complainant and in pursuance of that plan withdrew cash amounting to US$189 000 from the complainant’s CBZ account without express authority,” she said.
The alleged withdrawals were made on different occasions.
When the housing trust discovered the alleged irregularities, it reported the matter to the police, leading to the duo’s arrest.
Nothing has been recovered in relation to the first count.
In the second count, Ms Chibvongodze alleged that the two received US$1 184 449 from beneficiaries of the 1965 Link Road Housing Project and Raheen Farm Project.
The money was allegedly collected for intrinsic land value and was supposed to be remitted to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, State Lands Department.
Instead, the money was allegedly converted to Masokovere and Sauramba’s personal use. Ms Chibvongodze said the offence came to light after the housing trust received a demand for payment of the money from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
“The complainant discovered the offence when it received a letter from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, State Lands Department demanding payment of the money, which should have been paid earlier,” she said.
A report was then made to the police, leading to the arrest of Masokovere and Sauramba.
The two were linked to several housing projects being undertaken by Destiny of Afrika Network National Housing Projects Development Trust in Mutare. These include the Mountain Rise of Devonshire Housing Project, 1965 Link Road Housing Project, Fern Valley Housing Project, Lot 1 of Dora Housing Project, Weirmouth Housing Project, Fern Valley 2 Housing Project and Groove Farm Project.
The total alleged prejudice in the two counts is US$1 373 449, and nothing was recovered.
The matter was remanded to a later date.
