Elizabeth Parirenyatwa Dodges Cross-Exam After Testifying in False Information Case

In a bid to evade cross-examination, Harare woman Mrs. Elizabeth Parirenyatwa told the court that she was not feeling well soon after giving testimony in a case in which she is accusing two men of supplying false information to a public official.

A visibly fit Parirenyatwa suddenly claimed to be ill just as it was time for the defence to question her during cross-examination.
The incident prompted the magistrate to postpone the matter to May 20.

Investigations established that, based on available genealogical records, there is no documented familial relationship between Cecil John Rhodes and Brian James Rhodes, as alleged by Parirenyatwa.

During the previous court sitting, an assistant from the Master of the High Court’s office told the court that they had received numerous complaints from the children of the late Brian James Rhodes. The children are seeking the removal of Elizabeth Parirenyatwa as executor of their father’s estate.

During cross-examination, the assistant concurred with defence lawyers that the children are indeed unhappy with Parirenyatwa acting as executor of their father’s property.

One of the defence lawyers suggested to the witness that Parirenyatwa is mentally unstable and a criminal, which is why the late Rhodes’s children want her removed.

“Are you aware that there have been complaints from the children of the late Rhodes regarding how Parirenyatwa, who is mentally unstable, became the executor of their late father’s estate?”

“Would you deny the fact that Parirenyatwa is executor against the wishes of the deceased’s children?”

“No, I’m aware of that,” replied the assistant from the Master of the High Court.

The State also called two witnesses from the Deeds Office, who told the court that no prejudice was suffered that links Mr. Murphy and Mr. Wood to the alleged offence.
The two officials also denied that their office was the complainant in the matter.

The pair concurred that there is no nexus between Mr. Murphy and Mr. Wood and the alleged offence.
They stated that Murphy and Wood did not file documents in their personal capacities and that there is no connection between them and the commission of any offence.

Both witnesses confirmed that neither the Deeds Office nor the Registrar of Companies suffered any prejudice or noted any maladministration involving Karoi Properties.

The court was also told that the Master of the High Court confirmed they had never been shown proof that Brian Rhodes owned any shares in Karoi Properties. In fact, there were High Court judgments confirming that the shares were owned by the Phoenix Trust.

The Registrar of Companies also confirmed having received a court order confirming the appointment of Murphy and Wood as directors of Karoi Properties.

The court heard that Brian James Rhodes died on July 29, 2006, and that his surviving spouse, Elizabeth Anne Rhodes, later registered the estate with the Master of the High Court under reference DRI 426/1.

Parirenyatwa alleges that Murphy and Wood conspired to appoint themselves as directors by citing that Rhodes had resigned on April 30, 2012, despite the fact that he had died on July 29, 2006.
It is alleged that Parirenyatwa was appointed executor dative to administer the estate of Rhodes following receipt of a power of attorney from Anne Rhodes.