(Last Updated on January 28, 2016 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – Two Chitungwiza men appeared in court facing allegations of conning a Budiriro woman of cash in a botched residential stand deal.
Lincoln Matare and Bernard Mupanguri appeared at the Harare magistrates court charged with fraud.
They were not asked to plead to the charges when they appeared before magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti.
The duo was remanded out of custody to February 2 for trial.
Matare and Mupanguri are standing accused of conning Sharon Chiwedu of US$4 000.
It is said that sometime in January last year, Sharon met Leven Dzingai who referred her to Mupanguri who was selling a stand in Chitungwiza.
The State had it that Sharon later met Matare at Chitungwiza Municipal Head Office.
He then told Sharon that he was selling residential stands allocated to him by Chitungwiza Municipality to cover his outstanding unpaid salaries.
Matare allegedly charged US$4 500 for the stand but Sharon negotiated downwards and they settled for US$4 000.
Sharon reportedly paid US$2 000 before being told that the stands were in Unit O which is under the Manyame Rural District Council.
It is also said Sharon was shown stand No 44407 Unit O Extension.
On February 2, Sharon called Matare with intention to pay the balance but she was referred to one Dzingai whom she later met at Chitungwiza Municipal Head Office.
Sharon and Dzingai then drove to Chitungwiza Town Centre where they met Matare and Mupanguri.
Matare and Mupanguri were handed the money and they allegedly told Sharon that she could start developing the stand.
The court heard that the duo later gave Sharon a form written United We State Multi-Purpose Co-op which they asked her to sign.
Allegations are that Sharon was also asked to pay another US$200 which was to be handed to Dr Mabamba for him to sign the form.
She was also told that there was some money which was needed for temporary registration of the stand.
Reports are that Sharon started developing the stand and placed a caretaker to monitor the progress.
It is said that after some time another man approached Sharon’s caretaker and told him that he was the rightful owner of the stand.
Sharon was allocated another stand before another person approached her saying he was the rightful owner of the stand.
She later phoned the two sellers of the stand who failed to give satisfactory answers.
Sharon approached the police leading to Matare and Mupanguri’s arrest.