daniel chigunwe
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
The State has been put on notice that if Blessed Runesu Geza does not appear in court on February 25, the court will remove former Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) board chairman Basil Nyabadza on remand.
Nyabadza is facing allegations of defrauding Geza of US$1 362 000 in a land deal.
According to prosecutor Anesu Chirenje, Geza bought a piece of land measuring 42,3504 hectares from Nyabadza for US$1 362 000 on October 29, 2020.
Chirenje said Geza was granted sole authority to subdivide, develop, and sell the land.
When the agreement of sale was done, Nyabadza allegedly misrepresented to Geza that the piece of land had title deeds which he would avail in a month. However, he failed to deliver.
Chirenje told the court that while Geza was in the process of obtaining subdivision permits for the land from the Department of Physical Planning in Mashonaland West Province, he discovered that Nyabadza had sold the same land to Velda Estates.
The court heard that Geza engaged Nyabadza hoping for an amicable solution, only to discover that his agreement of sale had been cancelled without his knowledge.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Nyabadza being summoned to the courts.
Magistrate Mazhande remanded the matter to January 31 for ruling on the application for exemption.
Geza was prejudiced of US$1 362 000 and nothing was recovered.
Online Reporter