Beitbridge developer loses US$0,4m in stands scam
Sydney Mubaiwa
Two Nations Reporter
BEITBRIDGE- Four suspects have been arrested for allegedly selling 23 residential stands in Beitbridge belonging to Kingdom Lifestyle Africa without the knowledge of the company.
The stands which are in Matibe Low Density suburb have a total value of US$414 000 and the four were arrested on Wednesday and were remanded in custody by Regional Magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba to April 8, 2022 when they appeared in court on Friday and denied bail.
The State says Victor Matsikidze (52), an employee at Kingdom Lifestyle Africa connived to defraud the organisation with Stephen Ruphiya (52) who is an engineer with Zimborders and Smart Gandhlabani (39) and Prosper Ndlovu who both work at Tamic Creations.
The State says the other three suspects are workers for companies contracted by Kingdom Lifestyle Africa. They are represented by Muchihwande Fobs Sithole of Chauke and Associates and Tawonga Tawanda Musina of Garikayi and Company Legal Practitioners.
Prosecutor Ronald Mugwagwa said during the period extending from March 2021 to February 2022, the four connived to defraud the complainant of 23 residential stands by illegally selling them to home seekers.
The complainant in the matter is Tichaona Revai Sithole who is the director of Kingdom Lifestyle Africa Private Limited.
Matskidze, who was employed at Kingdom Lifestyle cleared and released 23 stands for sale by Tamic Creations Private Limited. Knowing that Matsikidze had the capacity to clear and release the stands, Ruphiya, Gandhlabani and Ndlovu went on to sell the stands to various home seekers in Beitbridge.
Gandhlabani and Ndlovu allegedly raised a false payment FNB Bank receipt of R500 000 as purchase of Asphalt meant to be used on tarring the serviced road and this was done to justify the sale of the residential stands without the authority of the complainant.
The complainant received various phone calls from the beneficiaries requesting offer letters to regularise the ownership with Beitbridge Town Council.
He realised that the number of requests had exceeded the five stands he had cleared and he investigated and discovered that a further 23 stands had been fraudulently sold.
He then made a Police report on Tuesday and the accused were arrested.https://twonations.co.zw
