HARARE – A controversial Harare land baron faces fraud after he allegedly grabbed and started selling residential stands to unsuspecting prospective home owners on a US$6 million piece of land belonging to Zanu PF linked Vevhu Resources [Pvt] Ltd.
Tafadzwa Kambarami Wednesday briefly appeared before Harare magistrate Taurai Manuwere who remanded him in custody pending bail hearing.
Vevhu Resources [Pvt] Ltd, the complainant in the case, is being represented by its General Manager Kumburani Magama.
According to court papers, on 10 April 2015, the complainant was issued with an offer letter by the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing in respect of Lot 12 and 14 of Spitzcorp Farm, Zvimba District for the development of Residential, Institutional, Commercial and Industrial Stands.
The complainant went on to pay the intrinsic land value in the sum of US$3,857,710 and a Memorandum of Agreement between the Ministry of Local Government and the complainant was signed on 27 June 2019.
Court heard that on 19 July 2022, the complainant had its layout plan in respect of the said piece of land approved in terms of section 43 of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 29:12.
A development permit was then issued authorising the complainant to commence development of Residential, Institutional, Commercial and Industrial stands as per the layout plan.
“The complainant then proceeded to the site but failed to implement its plans because the accused person, in cahoots with his accomplices who are still at large, were already unlawfully subdividing and selling stands on the complainant’s land to unsuspecting home seekers, collecting various amounts of money varying from US$200 to US$2 000 per individual,” said the National Prosecuting Authority.
Kambarami then allegedly allocated himself a commercial stand measuring 8 000 square metres valued at US$440,000 and four residential stands valued US$344,000.
Prosecutors allege he has since constructed several structures including a school, a butchery and a bar on the commercial stand and construction is underway at his residential stands.
“The accused has unlawfully sold stands valued at approximately USS$6 million through misrepresentation thereby causing complainant prejudice,” said the State.
