Three individuals suspected of being involved in Sunungukai Housing Co-operative land fraud were brought before the Harare magistrate, Mr. Dennis Mangosi, yesterday.
Robert Makwiza (50), Robson Mugwagwa (44), and Patricia Rusike (50) stand accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme under the guise of Sunungukai Housing Co-operative, purportedly aimed at defrauding 178 residential stands.
They were each granted bail of US$100 and are scheduled to appear for their routine remand on August 2.
The complainant in this case is the City of Harare, represented by Mr. Addmore Nhekairo, the Housing Director. According to the prosecution led by Mr. Rufaro Chonzi, the alleged fraudulent activities date back to 2010 when Benson Choto and other members identified vacant land behind Nazarene Church.
Subsequently, they formed Sunungukai Housing Co-operative, officially registering it in 2015 with the Registrar of Co-operative Societies.
In 2016, following government policy, the City of Harare converted housing cooperatives into pay-schemes. However, the accused allegedly proceeded to fabricate foundational documents in November 2021, falsely establishing Sunungukai Housing Co-operative Limited.
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They purportedly obtained a fraudulent registration certificate numbered 4 867, bearing a forged signature of the Registrar of Co-operatives from March 2012, despite the cooperative’s supposed inception in November 2021.
Further allegations claim that on June 1, 2023, the accused, posing as Sunungukai Housing Co-operative chairperson, vice chairperson, and treasurer of the fake cooperative, submitted an application to the City of Harare seeking regularization of the open space they had targeted for residential development.
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