Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo-Court Correspondent
Two men appeared in court on Saturday for allegedly tampering with a deceased person’s national identity card by replacing the photograph with one of the accused’s in an attempt to fraudulently sell the deceased’s property for US$28 000.
Robson Bwanali (46) and Frank Cheure (53), both from Mbare, were arraigned before Harare provincial magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo on fraud charges.
They were remanded in custody until Thursday for a bail hearing.
According to the prosecution led by Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe, the complainant, Mr Auther Makaza, is a 34-year-old resident of Zengeza 5 Extension, Chitungwiza.
In February 2026, Mr Makaza was searching for a residential stand when he came across an advertisement for a property on Facebook.
The stand, located at Stand Number 6519, Ruwa Township of Dispute Estate, measured 950 square metres and was listed for US$28 000.
After conducting due diligence, Mr Makaza discovered through the Deeds Office that the registered owner of the stand was Lovemore Charosa.
He contacted the accused, and a meeting was arranged at Zimre Properties to finalise the sale.
The accused assured Mr Makaza that Zimre Properties, the developers of the stand, would oversee the transaction.
However, further checks at the Central Registry revealed that Lovemore Charosa had died in 2003. Mr Makaza became suspicious and reported the matter to the police. On Sunday, Mr Makaza and detectives accompanied the accused to Zimre Properties for a scheduled meeting.
During the meeting, Bwanali claimed to be the owner of the stand and presented an identity card under the name Lovemore Charosa.
Cheure, posing as Charosa’s nephew, introduced himself as Kudakwashe Stanley Mavhengere and claimed to be escorting his elderly uncle.
The accused also presented a fraudulent agreement of sale listing Lovemore Charosa as the property owner.
Detectives arrested the pair at the scene, recovering the fake identity cards and the fraudulent agreement.
The prosecution noted that Mr Makaza narrowly avoided a potential loss of US$28 000 due to the accused’s misrepresentation.
