BULAWAYO – Police have launched a manhunt for a 40-year-old Bulawayo man accused of defrauding six home seekers of more than US$83,000 and R143,000 in a fake residential stands scam.
Elias Mutendi of Sizinda suburb allegedly posed as an agent selling residential stands on behalf of genuine property owners, but sold the properties without the owners’ knowledge.
Police said the alleged offences were committed between January 2017 and December 2024.
“The accused person misrepresented to six complainants and defrauded them a total value of US$83,750 and R143,000 through sales of residential stands belonging to other people without their knowledge,” Bulawayo police said in an appeal issued on Tuesday.
Mutendi has previously been arrested in a separate fraud case after police received a tip-off that led to his arrest at Unity Village in the city centre.
In that case, he was accused of defrauding seven victims of more than US$47,000 and R143,000 between 2013 and 2022 using forged documents to sell non-existent properties.
The money was not recovered, police said.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube urged home seekers to verify property ownership and the authenticity of stands before making payments.
“Members of the public should not trust anyone who claims to be doing business without first verifying if they are legit,” Ncube said.
“Members of the public should also verify with the local city council for the authenticity of the stands and houses.”
Police appealed to anyone with information that could lead to Mutendi’s arrest to report at their nearest police station.
They can also contact the CID Commercial Crimes Division in Bulawayo on 0292-2278446 or Detective Assistant Inspector Dube on +263712387278.
