Tendai Gukutikwa
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
A 29-YEAR-OLD Mutare man has been arrested for allegedly selling a residential stand he did not own to an unsuspecting home seeker.
Allan Venice Magara, of 07A Jongwe Street, Palmerstone, Mutare, was apprehended by detectives after selling a stand in Silverbow suburb, Rusape, to an unsuspecting Mr Fortune Rusape.
However, the stand in question legally belongs to Tsitsi Mukomberanwa, who was not part of the deal.
Manicaland police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed Magara’s arrest.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka explained that to deceive the buyer, Magara involved a real estate agent and even had the buyer pay taxes to ZIMRA.
“On May 23, 2025, at around 8am, the accused person misrepresented that he owned residential stand number 1506 Silverbow, Rusape, and intended to sell it. He then engaged the services of Ms Tambudzai Kanyerudza, a real estate agent, to advertise the stand. The agent met the complainant, who signalled his intention to buy the stand and requested to meet the accused person.
“On June 4, 2025, Magara met the complainant and took him to stand number 1506 Silverbow, Rusape. The accused person requested Mr Rusape to pay him ZWG10 000 and US$50 for a lease agreement application. The complainant paid the money to the accused person. The complainant then gave the accused person US$11 000 as part payment for the residential stand.
“On June 9, 2025, Mr Rusape paid US$4 000 to Magara, again as payment for the residential stand. On June 23, 2025, the accused person requested the complainant to pay US$1 897 for ZIMRA clearance, and the complainant paid the money to the accused person,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Mr Rusape received the shock of his life when he visited ‘his’ newly acquired stand to clear the land, only to be informed by neighbours that the stand actually belonged to someone else.
“On July 9, 2025, the complainant began clearing the land at Stand Number 1506 Silverbow, Rusape. However, a neighbour approached him, revealing that the stand belonged to Ms Mukomberanwa, and provided her contact details.
The complainant contacted Ms Mukomberanwa, who confirmed ownership of the stand. On July 14, 2025, the complainant reported the matter to the police. CID Rusape attended the scene and arrested the accused person. The total value of the fraud amounts to US$17 280, and nothing was recovered,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
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