Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A Harare businessman landed in the dock yesterday after he reportedly stole properties worth US$1 million from his aunt and brother.
Tonderai Chikuni 55, appeared before regional magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa charged with fraud.
He was released on US$500 bail and was ordered to surrender his travel documents, not to interfere with witnesses until the matter is finalized and to report once a week at CID Commercial Crimes Division.
The first complainant is Florence Rwidzai Madake of Borrowdale West and she is Chikuni’s aunt.
The court heard that in February 2023, Chikuni and his accomplice Oscar Guti Njanji, who is still at large, connived to defraud Madake.
Chikuni then approached his aunt and misrepresented to her that he was employed as a business consultant by Njanji.
He allegedly deceived his aunt into believing that Njanji had viable business operations at Freda Rebecca Mine, Bindura which required some funding.
Chikuni indicated to his aunt that they had made an application for a business loan at BancABC but it was not successful due to unavailability of collateral.
Convinced, Madake released her title deeds for her Borrowdale West house measuring 2 339 square meters registered under deed of transfer 2772/97.
Chikuni and his accomplice Njanji took the deed on the pretext that they were applying for a 90-day loan facility worth US$252 842.
They misrepresented to Madake that they had the capacity to service the loan within the 90 days.
The property was worth US$460 000.
Chikuni and his accomplice then successfully made a loan application at BancABC using the title deed as collateral.
The duo failed to settle the loan and the deed remained at the bank.
After a while Madake was informed that BancABC intended to dispose her house due to non-servicing of the loan by Chikuni and Njanji.
Nothing materialised after she engaged her nephew prompting her to file a report with the police.
The second complainant is Farai Chikuni, who allegedly gave the duo the tittle deed of his Mandara home worth US$600 000.
The tittle deed is held at NMB bank where the two got a US$225 000 loan.
Lancelot Mutsokoti appeared for the State.
