Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent
A HARARE-BASED lawyer and estate agent are on the run after allegedly defrauding a home seeker of US$14 000 in a property sale involving a commercial stand in Highfield, Harare.
The complainant, Cosma Mazambara, was deceived into buying the stand by a group of conspirators, including lawyer Proud Fambisai Mutuso, estate agent Jacob Mugugu, and businessman Regis Jonas Maguva, the owner and founder of Vanguard (Pvt) Limited.
Maguva, who appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Tapiwa Kuhudzai, was granted bail and is expected to return to court on November 11.
However, Mutuso and Mugugu remain at large.
According to prosecutor Mr Takudzwa Jambawu, the incident occurred in 2023 when Mazambara was searching for a commercial stand to buy.
He was approached by Mugugu, who introduced him to Maguva, falsely claiming Maguva was selling commercial stand number 8641 in Highfield Township for US$14 000.
Mazambara expressed interest after visiting the stand and was introduced to Mutuso, who was presented as the conveyancer for the transaction.
Mazambara handed over the full amount of US$14 000 to Mutuso, who was supposed to hold the money in trust until the stand’s ownership transfer was finalised.
The complainant signed an agreement of sale and was promised council documents proving ownership within a few days.
However, when Mazambara later contacted Mutuso to collect the documents, the lawyer became evasive and unresponsive.
Investigations revealed that the stand in question was not owned by the accused but was instead reserved by the Harare City Council for a police post.
Council’s Planning Department confirmed that the stand had never been rented, sold, or leased to anyone.
The trio allegedly misrepresented themselves as the rightful owners of the stand, causing Mazambara to suffer financial prejudice of US$14 000.
