Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
Three commercial farmers have appeared before the courts on allegations of defrauding a fellow farmer of irrigation pivots valued at more than US$232 000 by using fraudulent documents.
James Glen (58), an employee of Klein Karoo Seed Marketing, together with Bradley John Pybus (43) and David Lindsay Clements (56), both directors of Bigtull Investments Pvt Ltd, appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa, facing fraud charges.
The trio was remanded out of custody to June 29 for trial.
The complainant is Agrilliance Pvt Ltd, represented by Mr David Leonard Van Breda (58).
The State alleges that in August 2017, Agrilliance entered into a farming contract with Klein Karoo Seed Marketing Pvt Ltd, facilitated by Glen.
Under the agreement, Klein Karoo leased three irrigation pivots valued at US$232 773, 89 to the complainant.
In return, Agrilliance was required to grow and supply seed maize, sorghum and soya beans over four years to offset the cost of the pivots and associated expenses, including repairs and insurance.
The court heard that after obtaining the pivots, the complainant entered into joint venture arrangements with three farmers to install and operate the equipment on their farms.
A 60-hectare pivot was erected at Fupojena Farm in partnership with Shearman Mkwesha, while a towable 50-hectare pivot was installed at Lionsville Farm (Talbec).
The third towable 50-hectare pivot was erected at Bosbury Farm in partnership with Notayl Matemasango.
Prosecutors allege that by 2018, the complainant had fully settled the cost of the pivots through the delivery of contracted seed crops to Klein Karoo Seed Marketing.
The dispute allegedly arose in April 2020 when Pybus and Clements approached the complainant seeking to purchase the three pivots.
The offer was reportedly declined, with the complainant indicating plans to relocate the equipment from Chegutu to Middle Sabi in Manicaland.
The State further alleges that in October 2020, the three accused connived to deprive the complainant of ownership of the pivots.
It is alleged that Glen generated and distributed three letters to the farm owners claiming that the pivots belonged to Klein Karoo Seed Marketing Pvt Ltd.
Using the letters, workers allegedly removed the 60-hectare pivot from Fupojena Farm and transferred it to Henderson Farm without the complainant’s knowledge or consent.
The pivots located at Bosbury Farm and Lionsville Farm are reportedly still at their respective sites.
The State alleges that the complainant suffered prejudice amounting to US$232 773,89.
The matter is set to proceed to trial on June 29.
