Cleverhill Investments in Court Over Land Deal F...

Cleverhill Investments in Court Over Land Deal Fraud

Munyaradzi Mashiri

Zim Now Writer

Cleverhill Investments Private Limited is facing court proceedings after allegedly defrauding a complainant in a land sale. The company’s representative, Tendai Maredza, 31, of Carrick Estate, appeared before Magistrate Dennis Mangosi, charged with violating Section 136 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act.

According to the prosecution, in March 2024, the complainant was informed that Cleverhill Investments was offering residential stands for sale in Crowhill, Harare. Seeking more information, the complainant visited Maredza’s office, where he met with Maredza and an accomplice named Ngorima, who is currently at large. During this meeting, the two reportedly confirmed they were selling stands ranging from 500 to 1,000 square meters.

It is alleged that Maredza and Ngorima misrepresented the facts to the complainant, informing him that stand number 9176, measuring 1,000 square meters, was for sale at US$10,000. Maredza then instructed Ngorima to take the complainant to Crowhill to view the stand. However, on arrival, the complainant was shown stand number 9189, which actually belonged to a man named Tawanda Moyo. Despite this discrepancy, the complainant was deceived into believing it was stand number 9176 as shown on the Crowhill layout plan.

The complainant, trusting the representation, paid the full US$10,000 purchase price on the same day. An agreement of sale was signed between the complainant and Cleverhill Investments, represented by Maredza.

In April, when the complainant returned to the site with the agreement in hand, he found that stand number 9176 was occupied by Moyo, who had already set up a cabin on the property. After a confrontation with Moyo, the complainant discovered a peg labeled 9189 instead of the promised 9176. He returned to Maredza, who acknowledged the error and promised to assign a different stand.

However, despite repeated attempts, the complainant was unable to either obtain the promised replacement stand or recover his money, leading him to report the matter to the authorities.

Further allegations indicate that in January 2023, Maredza invited the complainant to the company’s offices, promising to provide a new stand. During the meeting, Maredza claimed the company had recently developed new stands in Crowhill and that they were ready for sale. Ngorima showed the complainant a layout map, identifying a numbered stand allegedly available for purchase. Again convinced, the complainant paid another US$10,000 for stand number 10360, also measuring 1,000 square meters.

After two months, the complainant insisted on visiting the new stand. However, he was shown undeveloped wetlands without any visible markings or pegs. After questioning Ngorima, the complainant was advised to remain patient for future development. The issue became evident when the complainant examined the map and discovered the supposed stand was actually open space, with no existence of the stand number provided.

Since 2023, the complainant has made multiple attempts to reclaim his money, but to no avail. Consequently, he suffered a total loss of US$10 000, which remains unrecovered.

The state is represented by Prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi.