Yeukai Karengezeka

Court Correspondent

Shadreck Dzapasi of Norton and Steady Munyoro from Chitungwiza, have appeared in court, accused of defrauding a man of US$92 000 in a fraudulent residential stand deal.

The suspects appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Mrs Apollonia Marutya.

They were granted bail of US$250 each and are scheduled to return to court on January 17, 2025.

According to prosecutor Mr Rufaro Chonzi, the victim, Matthew Wheeler, sought to purchase land for residential purposes in January this year.

He submitted an application to the City of Harare’s Department of Housing and Community Services.

While following up on his application at the City of Harare offices, Wheeler met Dzapasi, whom he recognised from political circles.

Dzapasi allegedly misled Wheeler into believing that Munyoro was an employee of the City of Harare and could expedite the land acquisition process.

Trusting Dzapasi, Wheeler agreed to meet Munyoro, who was wearing a white dust coat inscribed “City of Harare”, further convincing him of his legitimacy. Munyoro introduced himself as Samuel Chakacha and assured Wheeler that he could process his application quickly.

He then took Wheeler’s application letter, claiming he would handle it, and instructed him to make payments directly to him. Between June and October, Wheeler paid US$92 000 to Dzapasi and Munyoro in several transactions. Munyoro allegedly signed for the payments and issued Wheeler fake City of Harare receipts as proof.

In November, when Wheeler returned to the City of Harare offices to check on his application, he discovered that his file was missing and that neither Dzapasi nor Munyoro were employees of the council.

Realising he had been duped, Wheeler attempted to recover his money but was unsuccessful, prompting him to file a report with the police, which led to the arrest of the suspects.