Duo in court for fraud involving commercial stands

Michael Mashiri

Two Harare men have appeared in court facing two counts of fraud.

Desmond Rutsito, 48, of Madokero, and Mike Kawanzaruwa, 37, of Kuwadzana appeared before magistrate Evelyn Mashavakure facing two counts of fraud.

The complainant in the matter is Montero Trading International represented by the managing director Mussa Hussein Yakub, 40, who is also the director of Montbev Private Limited in Southerton.

The State, alleges that, in August 2018, Rutsito who is currently employed by City of Harare attached in the Department of Evaluation contacted Montero Trading and lied that the City of Harare was offering commercial stands in Pomona, Harare on a 10-year lease, with an option to buy the property at a reasonable purchase price.

He told Montero Trading that due to budget constraints, the City of Harare had appointed Kawanzaruwa as the developer to develop, lease and sell the stands to the public.

Rutsito forwarded a layout plan which had fifteen undeveloped stands a purchase price of US$25 000 each via WhatsApp.

Montero Trading was interested on stand number 415 and 417 for commercial purposes.

Rutsito and Kawanzaruwa then told Montero Trading to make an application to City of Harare addressed to The Director City Evaluation Department.

Applications were made for the stands and were given to Rutsito and Kawanzaruwa.

The two delivered response letters that claimed to have been signed by Acting Finance Director, City of Harare on September 7, 2022 in respect of the stands.

On September 15, 2022, the two brought two separate Memorandum Agreement of Lease of Land, the lessor being City of Harare.

After agreeing to the terms and conditions of the agreements, Montero Trading signed and handed the copies of agreement back to Rutsito and Kawanzaruwa upon payment of an initial deposit of US$10 000 to Rutsito for stand number 415.

On September 22, 2022, Rutsito and Kawanzaruwa brought the Memorandum of Agreements claimed to have been signed by the Acting Town Clerk City of Harare on September 20, 2022.

Montero Trading made another US$5 000 payment.

Mashavakure granted Rutsito and Kawanzaruwa ZWL$300 000 bail each. They were ordered to continue residing at the addresses given to the court until the matter was finalised.

They will appear in court on April 12, 2023.