Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A Harare woman has appeared in court on allegations of orchestrating a bogus housing scheme that defrauded more than 100 unsuspecting home seekers of approximately US$120 000.
Natasha Rangarirai Mutambirwa appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo, facing fraud charges. She was granted bail of US$200 and remanded to May 22 pending the finalisation of investigations.
The State, represented by prosecutor Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe, alleges that between 2019 and 2025, Mutambirwa, acting in connivance with an accomplice, Tawanda Zeze — who remains at large — devised a plan to defraud land seekers through a fake housing trust.
According to the State, the duo established an entity called More Than Conquerors Trust, which they advertised as offering residential stands for sale, targeting both local buyers and Zimbabweans in the diaspora.
It is alleged that Mutambirwa misrepresented to prospective buyers that the trust had donors who would cover 85 percent of the purchase price for the stands, leaving beneficiaries to pay only the remaining 15 percent.
Complainants were reportedly invited to Mutambirwa’s offices at Joina City in Harare, where they were persuaded to join the scheme upon paying a non-refundable joining fee of US$200 and monthly subscriptions of US$25.
The court heard that more than 100 people paid into the scheme, believing they would eventually receive residential stands. However, no stands were ever allocated.
Prosecutors allege that Mutambirwa used the funds collected from the scheme to acquire several properties and assets, including, a residential stand in Mandara (Lot 13A, measuring 3,920 square metres), a Toyota Hilux double cab vehicle, a house in Ziko, Chitungwiza and a plot in Macheke.
The total value of the assets allegedly acquired using proceeds of the fraud is estimated at US$120 000.
Nothing was recovered.
