ANTHONY Muchato, a treasurer at Harare South Housing Association apex board appeared in court last Friday charged with fraud after he allegedly attempted to steal the housing co-operative, registering it under a different name.
BY CHARLES LAITON
The housing co-operative, which is located at Retreat Farm which borders Mainway Meadows in Waterfalls, has over 5 500 residential stands.
According to court papers, Muchato (42) was in August last year tasked by the co-operative’s board chairperson Tonderai Nkomo to process a partnership agreement with the government for the development of 5 544 residential stands.
It is alleged the partnership agreement was supposed to be between Harare South Housing Association apex board and the Ministry of Local Government Rural and Urban Development.
However, Muchato allegedly changed the co-operative’s name to a non-existent entity called Harare South Housing Union (apex board), instead of Harare South Housing Apex Co-operative Society Limited.
The court heard that on August 12 last year, Muchato left the board after forming his own housing co-operative in a bid to take over and administer Retreat Farm Housing project.
His unceremonious departure from the co-operative prompted the board to investigate him, leading to the discovery of the alleged offence and his arrest.
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Last Friday Muchato denied the fraud charge when he appeared before Mbare resident magistrate Anita Tshuma.
In the alternative, Muchato is being charged with deliberately supplying false information to the public authority in contravention of Section 180 (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
He was remanded out of custody on $100 bail to Wednesday next week for trial.
