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Brenda Zinyuke, Court Reporter
A SERIAL land fraudster has appeared in court for allegedly defrauding eleven home seekers of more than $4 000 and US$200 after pretending to be a village head selling plots and residential stands in Kensington on the outskirts of Bulawayo.
Obvious Nyika (33) whose residential address was not provided, duped the home seekers between April 2016 and May this year.
Nyika was not asked to plead to eleven counts of fraud when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Nomasiko Ndlovu. He was remanded in custody to November 4.
Nyika allegedly allocated plots and residential stands measuring 50 to 100m2 knowing that the land belonged to MacDonald Bricks.
He told his victims that he was selling the stands at affordable prices to low income earners.
Prosecuting, Mr Mufaro Mageza said between April 2016 and May this year, Nyika allegedly sold the plots and stands for varius amonths.
In the first count, Nyika told Ms Thandazile Zandile Sibanda-Midzi that he was the owner of plot 6B in Kensington.
“The complainant showed interest in the plot and was asked to pay $350 through Ecocash so that she could be allocated a piece of land. The complainant sent the money and was allocated a piece of land which she developed,” said the prosecutor.
Nyika allegedly used the same method to dupe the other ten victims on separate occasions selling them the pieces of land. On May 14 this year, MacDonald Bricks demolished the complainants’ illegal structures.
The victims reported the case to the police leading to Nyika’s arrest. — @zinyuke98
Online Reporter