A 34-year-old Chakari woman escaped an effective jail term after being convicted of fraud for selling a commercial stand she did not own in a bogus US$4,000 land deal.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), Nelia Banda sold Commercial Stand No. 13 Lufaroi at Village B Complex Shops in Chakari to Joseph Musirinyango for US$4,000 on January 17, 2024, while “falsely claiming ownership of the property.”
The deception came to light when the purchaser attempted to commence developments on the property.
“When the victim attempted to commence developments, officials from RioZim stopped him, advising that the land did not belong to the offender. Investigations by ZRP Chakari confirmed through RioZim that Banda had no legal right to the stand,” said the NPAZ.
The Kadoma Magistrates’ Court convicted Banda of fraud and sentenced her to 10 months’ imprisonment. However, the entire sentence was wholly suspended on condition that she restitutes the full US$4,000 to the complainant.
Urging members of the public to exercise caution when purchasing property, the NPAZ said: “The public is urged to verify land ownership with the relevant authorities before purchasing property. Misrepresenting ownership to obtain money through false pretences is a criminal offence that attracts prosecution.”
The case underscores the importance of carrying out due diligence before concluding land transactions to avoid falling victim to fraudulent property deals.
