daniel chigunwe
Zvikomborero Parafini
A CORPORAL, who is attached to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, was dragged to court yesterday to answer to fraud charges.
Reginald Chisangowerotah is alleged to have illegally subdivided land, set aside for a school in Budiriro, and sold non-existent stands to home seekers.
The complainant is Blessing Muringai.
The court heard that the City of Harare owned a piece of land, cited as Stand Number 17625, Budiriro, and it was reserved for a Primary School.
It is the State’s case that from 2013 to 2017, Chisangowerotah fraudulently and unlawfully subdivided the reserved piece of land into residential stands.
He started parcelling out the stands through a cooperative by the name Tinotenda Baba Housing Co-operative.
In October 2017, Muringai got information that Chisangowerotah was selling residential stands in Budiriro 5A.
She got hold of him in a bid to secure a residential stand for herself.
It is alleged that Chisangowerotah misrepresented to Muringai that he owned the stands and was selling them at different prices.
Muringai acted on the misrepresentation and settled for Stand number 97 Budiriro 5A, Harare measuring 240 square metres which was valued at US$2 500.
Muringai immediately paid US$740 towards the purchase of the stand to Chisangowerotah and paid another US$1 800 the following week.
She was made to pay another US$200 which was for the allocation fee.
After making the payments, Muringai built a house worth US$4000.
Muringai was then advised to make US$80 monthly payments for development fees but she resisted those demands.
Muringai went to the City of Harare and was advised that the land belonged to the Council and was reserved for a school.
The case was reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and investigations led to the arrest of Chisangowerotah.
Online Reporter