In a daring case of property forgery, three suspects find themselves entangled in a web of deceit surrounding the former Education Minister Mutumbuka’s Chisipite residence. The accused, Tatenda Wakatama (47) and Prosper Bizwek (45), with accomplice Jonah Ngome still at large, attempted to manipulate Mutumbuka’s title deed for a US$0.6 million property in Rudolf Valley.
Their fatal mistake became apparent as they overlooked the property’s intricacies, failing to recognize that it comprised two consolidated stands—Stand 184 Rudolf Valley, housing the contested residence, and adjacent Stand 183 Rudolf Valley. The forgery focused solely on Stand 184, omitting Stand 183, a critical detail present in the consolidated certificate.
Registrar of Deeds Companies & Intellectual Property, Absalom Magwere, presented compelling evidence at the Harare Magistrate Court, highlighting Mutumbuka’s meticulous consolidation of both stands under a single certificate. This oversight, exploited by the fraudsters, emphasized the indisputable ownership by Mutumbuka.
The suspects, represented by legal counsel John Mugogo of Mugogo Attorneys and Enock Nengomazha of Zuze Law Chambers, stand accused of selling the property, valued at US$45,000, to Harrison Marange and his wife Demetria Zirenga. As the trial unfolds, Magistrate Ethel Chichera is set to deliver her ruling on Monday, marking a crucial chapter in the pursuit of justice for this audacious forgery scheme.
