HARARE, Zimbabwe —In a damning indictment of the lawlessness currently permeating the local real estate sector, a Harare couple has been left financially ruined after being fleeced of a staggering US$34,000 in a cold-blooded land scam.
At the center of this malicious deception is Artwell Kashiri, a suspected rogue operator now labeled a notorious fraudster and swindler. Kashiri allegedly hunted down unsuspecting home-seekers, selling them residential stands that he had absolutely no legal claim to.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has since launched a massive manhunt for Kashiri. A warrant of arrest has been officially issued, with intelligence sources suggesting the elusive fugitive is currently playing hide-and-seek with law enforcement, potentially lurking in the shadows of Nyanga or Chipinge.
The victims’ nightmare was meticulously manufactured right under the nose of corporate formalistic structures. According to the devastated couple, the fraudulent transactions were executed directly within the offices of Lomlight Investments Private Limited, located in the upscale suburb of Belvedere, Harare.
The capture of the victims was seamless:
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Corporate Front: All negotiations, agreements, and paperwork were processed inside the company’s premises.
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Financial Paper Trail: Hard cash payments were handed over at the offices, with the victims receiving official receipts boldly bearing Lomlight Investments’ corporate name.
The cruel reality hit home when the couple attempted to take possession of their property, only to be aggressively confronted by the actual, legitimate landlords who accused them of criminal trespassing.
“We later discovered that the stands did not belong to him after my husband and I were accused of trespassing by the real owners of the land,” the traumatized complainant said.
The moment Kashiri was confronted with the truth, the cowardly swindler did what predators do best—he vanished into thin air with the couple’s life savings, offering zero compensation.
In a classic move to deflect liability, legal representatives associated with the transactions have since scrambled to distance themselves from the heat. They now claim Kashiri was a rogue agent acting entirely on his own accord without corporate backing. However, the victims are refusing to buy this narrative, standing firm that every single interaction was facilitated within the company’s workspace and under its corporate banner.
Compounding the corporate complicity, the complainant revealed that both Lomlight Investments and its legal handlers had previously issued a written commitment promising to refund the stolen US$34,000 on Kashiri’s behalf. More than twelve months later, not a single cent has been paid back.
This calculated heist has prompted fears that the couple might just be the tip of the iceberg.
“I believe there may be other victims who were scammed in the same way, and I encourage them to come forward so that justice can be served,” the complainant pleaded.
With the green light from authorities to go public, a bounty of US$1,000 has now been slapped on Kashiri’s head for any whistleblowers providing concrete information leading to his immediate arrest.
ZiMetro News urges members of the public to remain highly vigilant. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Artwell Kashiri should urgently contact the complainant on 0788885370 or report directly to the nearest police station. The net is closing in.
Source | The Zimbabwe Times