Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
TWO suspected Harare land barons have appeared in court on allegations of swindling unsuspecting homeseekers US$151 000 in three separate botched stand deals.
Desmond Rutsito (42) and Leeroy Manyange (28) were facing three counts of fraud when they appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Jessie Kufa.
The court heard that sometime in September 2024, the accused persons connived with their accomplices Edgar Dzehonye and Pakamile Mabhena Moyo, who are still at large and approached the director of the complainant at his company, Haider Enterprises Pvt (Ltd), located at 57 Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Harare, which specialises in real estate management, represented by Calisto Murambasvina, the company manager.
The accused persons offered for sale Stand Number 1585 Ardbennie, Southerton, Harare, measuring 7,320 square meters.
The complainant agreed to buy the commercial stand, and the accused persons drafted a Lease Agreement purporting that the complainant would acquire the land from the Harare City Council.
The accused persons received US$76 000 as a deposit for the acquisition of the stand in various amounts from the complainant from November 2, 2024, to January 22, 2026.
The complainant later verified with Harare City Council, and he discovered that the accused had no authority to sell the commercial stand to him and he reported the matter to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest.
Actual prejudice is US$76 000 and nothing was recovered. On count two, it is alleged that sometime in April 2025, the two accused persons and their accomplices Dzehonye and Moyo connived and offered for sale commercial Stand Number 16628 Aspindale, Harare, measuring 17 851,92 square meters to the complainant Munyaradzi Chikusvu (50).
The accused persons falsely claimed that the commercial stand belongs to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and that they had the authority to sell the piece of land.
On April 28 2025, the accused persons drafted a Lease Agreement and gave it to the complainant, who was in Harare CBD.
They then demanded US$35 000 as part payment of the stand. The accused persons were paid US$35 000 by the complainant, who later realised that he had been duped.
He reported the matter to the police, leading to the accused persons’ arrest. Actual prejudice in the matter is US$35 000, and nothing was recovered.
On the third count, the court heard that sometime in April 2025, the accused persons connived with their accomplices Dzehonye and Mabhena Moyo, who are still at large and approached Munyarardzi Chikusvu, the director of the company Humnoth Investments Pvt (Ltd), which specialises in dairy farming.
The accused persons offered for sale the Remainder of 331 Glenara and Glenroy, Harare, measuring 384 square meters
The complainant agreed to purchase the commercial stand, and the accused persons drafted a Lease Agreement dated April 12, 2025, purporting that the complainant would acquire the land from the City of Harare.
The accused persons met the director of the company, Munyaradzi Chikusvu, in Harare CBD and gave him the Lease Agreement.
They then received USD50 000 from the complainant as part payment of the stand, which was paid in various amounts.
The complainant later verified with the City of Harare and discovered that the accused had no authority to sell the commercial stand to him and he reported the matter to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest.
