Mudzi Landowner Shocked by ‘Fake’ Mining Consent Bearing His Signature

 

Three men appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing fraud allegations after a Mudzi landowner allegedly discovered a consent form bearing his signature authorising mining activities by a person he claims he had never met or entered into an agreement with.

The accused are Moses Maja, 45, Wiriranai Chitombo, 42, and Zvinairo Ngwereva, 56.

Peter Kaitano is the complainant in the matter.

The court heard that in December 2025, Kaitano granted Allan Mbabvu authority to conduct mining activities on his land in the Makaha area of Mudzi.

It is alleged that Maja and Chitombo later approached Kaitano proposing a partnership arrangement, indicating that Maja owned an ore processing plant. Kaitano then introduced the proposal to his brother, Pedzisai Kaitano, and his nephew, Fadzai Nyamutambo, who reportedly supported the venture.

According to court proceedings, the parties entered into a partnership agreement on December 22, 2025, and all involved parties signed the document.

The court heard that when the complainant later requested a copy of the agreement, he was allegedly informed that the lawyer handling the matter had travelled to Harare to have the document commissioned and that copies would only be available afterwards.

However, in April 2026, Kaitano allegedly discovered a consent-to-peg form bearing his signature authorising Ngwereva to peg mining claims on his land.

The complainant told the court that he had never met Ngwereva and had never entered into any agreement with him.

The matter was remanded to June 24, 2026, for further proceedings.