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NewsDay

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Priest implicated in property scam

News
Anglican Church leader Vicar-General Gordon Mutasa has been ordered to reverse a deal in which he allegedly fraudulently changed ownership of a house belonging to an 81-year-old Kwekwe church member into his name or face prosecution. This came after Mutasa, who heads St Michaels Parish in Amaveni, Kwekwes oldest suburb, allegedly dumped the octogenarian Jane […]

Anglican Church leader Vicar-General Gordon Mutasa has been ordered to reverse a deal in which he allegedly fraudulently changed ownership of a house belonging to an 81-year-old Kwekwe church member into his name or face prosecution.

This came after Mutasa, who heads St Michaels Parish in Amaveni, Kwekwes oldest suburb, allegedly dumped the octogenarian Jane James at Amaveni Old Peoples Home and registered her property into his name.

Police confirmed the incident, adding they intervened in the matter to assist James to reclaim control of her B22 Amaveni house from Mutasa.

Kwekwe District police spokesperson Detective Sergeant Isaac Mhondiwa yesterday told NewsDay he summoned Mutasa and ordered him to reverse the alleged fraudulent transfer of the property or risk prosecution over the matter.

We intervened to assist the old lady regain control and ownership of her house which Mutasa claimed to have legally purchased from the old lady. We could have proceeded to arrest the reverend if a criminal report had been made, but James only wanted her house back, Mhondiwa said.

Mhondiwa said after the meeting, Mutasa transferred the house back to James although a $700 water bill was left hanging on the property.

Mutasa confirmed the matter, but denied charges that he had fraudulently acquired the property, adding James had donated the house to him.

I was not forced by the police to cede ownership of the house like you put it, I did it without any pushing because once the matter became contested I wrote a letter to council asking them to cede my claim to the house even before the police came in, Mutasa said.

James, most of whose relatives have left Zimbabwe, accused Mutasa of forcing her out of her house and dumping her at an old peoples home without her consent.

Now staying with other relatives in Mbizo, James said she had offered Mutasa the house upon her death only if none of her relatives lay a claim on the property.

He put tenants at my house in Amaveni and I got nothing from him yet I was living on handouts and having a miserable life at the old peoples home, James alleged.