Elliot Mharadze , a notorious housing fraudster has been sentenced to ten years in prison for defrauding eight unsuspecting victims.
The Bulawayo regional magistrate, Ms. Benhilda Chiwundura, delivered the verdict after Mharadze was found guilty of eight counts of fraud that occurred six years ago.
The total amount he defrauded his victims of exceeds a staggering US$56,445 and R664,000, leaving many individuals financially devastated.
Remarkably, the court suspended two years of his sentence on the condition that Mharadze refrains from committing similar crimes during that period, while an additional four years were suspended contingent upon his full restitution to the victims.
Mharadze’s method of operation involved targeting diasporan individuals, exploiting their opportunities for investment in land development.
Presenting himself as a registered developer, he lured his victims into believing they were purchasing valuable residential property. However, after collecting substantial payments for residential stands, Mharadze would vanish without a trace, leaving his victims empty-handed.
One particularly heart-wrenching case involved his own niece, to whom he swindled US$9,700 for a stand and an additional US$2,400 for foundation work on a house.
Among the many victims, Ms. Phepelaphi Dube’s story stands out as a testament to Mharadze’s unscrupulous tactics.
After paying US$10,205 for a semi-finished two-roomed house, she discovered that the property she believed she had purchased had actually been claimed by another individual.
The revelation prompted Dube to report Mharadze to the police, a move that ultimately contributed to his conviction. Similarly, Ms. Mumo Ncube was led to believe she was purchasing a two-roomed house in Pelandaba West.
Instead of receiving her promised home, she found herself entangled in a web of deceit, having paid ZWL9,300 and R50,000 over an 18-month period for a project that was never completed.
In a significant turn during the trial, Mharadze’s initial denial of the charges crumbled in light of the compelling evidence presented by the State, which included testimonies from three witnesses.
Once cornered by the unfolding narrative of betrayal and financial ruin, he changed his plea to guilty.
In her sentencing remarks, Ms. Chiwundura condemned Mharadze’s actions as deplorable, emphasizing the lasting consequences of his fraudulent activities on the lives of his victims.
