KEY POINTS
- Harare Magistrate rules two suspects must face trial for fraudulent sale of Dr. Dzingai Mutumbuka’s $400,000 mansion.
- Court evidence reveals an organized syndicate involving stolen title deeds and forged documents.
- Two key suspects, including the deed forger, remain at large as police face pressure to secure arrests.
Two suspects accused of masterminding the fraudulent sale of former Minister Dzingai Mutumbuka’s $400,000 Chisipite mansion are set to face a full trial, following a Harare Magistrate’s decision to dismiss their discharge application.
Magistrate Ethel Sichera ruled that Prosper Bizwick, 43, and Tatenda Shaft Wakatama, 47, have a criminal case to answer.
The court found evidence suggesting their involvement in a well-organized syndicate that executed the fraudulent sale, with each participant playing a specific role in the scheme.
“The manner in which the money was paid shows that everyone was in a rush to conclude the deal,” Magistrate Sichera remarked. Her decision aligns with the police investigation, which uncovered critical details about the syndicate’s operations.
How the fraud unfolded
Court evidence revealed that Bizwick’s girlfriend, Laina Mlambo, a supervisor at the Deeds Office, allegedly stole Dr. Mutumbuka’s title deed and handed it to Bizwick.
Wakatama, acting as a middleman, connected the buyer and seller and approached legal professionals to facilitate the fraudulent transfer.
Kenias Mutyasira, a lawyer from Mubangwa and Partners who handled the property transfer, testified about his role in processing the documents. He stated that the deal raised suspicions due to its urgency and irregularities.
Despite significant progress in the investigation, two key suspects remain at large. Jona Ngome, who allegedly forged the title deed, has evaded arrest since the case was reported three years ago.
Mlambo, who initially cooperated with investigators but later became a hostile witness, is also yet to be apprehended.
High court intervention and property recovery
Dr. Mutumbuka successfully reclaimed ownership of his mansion after a High Court ruling. Justice Nyaradzo Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa determined that those involved acted criminally, nullifying the fraudulent transaction.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has faced mounting pressure to bring the remaining suspects to justice. The case has drawn attention to vulnerabilities in the country’s Deeds Office, where corruption and lapses in security have enabled such schemes.
Broader implications
This trial underscores the critical need for enhanced safeguards around title deed handling and property registration in Zimbabwe. Legal experts and anti-corruption advocates have called for reforms to prevent similar cases and restore public trust in the property ownership system.
As the trial moves forward, it is expected to set a precedent for addressing fraudulent property sales and ensuring accountability for those involved in undermining the integrity of Zimbabwe’s real estate sector.
