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Blind granny duped into selling house

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ERINA Riasi, a 94-year-old partially blind Mabvuku widow stands to be kicked out of her matrimonial house tomorrow after she was allegedly duped

ERINA Riasi, a 94-year-old partially blind Mabvuku widow stands to be kicked out of her matrimonial house tomorrow after she was allegedly duped into signing over all ownership rights to Zimbabwe Widows and Orphans Trust (ZWOT), a welfare organisation that ironically caters for the underprivileged members of society.

PHYLLIS MBANJE STAFF REPORTER

Her son Frederick Riasi told NewsDay yesterday that they were served with a writ of ejectment last Thursday and were expected to have vacated the property by today after the house was subsequently sold to another person who is now to take occupation of the house – at number 8 Pungwe Road in New Mabvuku.

“This all started long back in 2008 when a woman came to our house claiming that she had bought the house, but my mother denied ever selling the house and was very shocked,” he said.

Investigations by the family uncovered a scam in which the now late Susan Zvinoira of Zimbabwe Widows and Orphans Trust (ZWOT) allegedly misrepresented to Erina who at the time was under her care and made her sign over her right of ownership to the house.

“My mother is partially blind, can neither read nor write. She uses her thumb as a signature and so this woman from ZWOT took advantage of that,” said Frederick.

In 2006, Erina suffered from eye ailments and she approached ZWOT for help. She also asked them to transfer the house to her name since she had inherited it when her husband passed on.

But during the time the widow was under the care of the organisation, Zvinoira allegedly misrepresented facts, fraudulently acquired the right of attorney and later sold the house.

“Zvinoira then went ahead and sold the house to Rangarirai Mutandwa who was acting on behalf of his nephews Trevor and Keith Isa,” Since then the Riasi family has been battling to keep away the “new” owners. The matter was brought before the courts and Mutandwa applied for eviction of the family.

“However, on April 16 2010 they mysteriously withdrew the case, but five months down the line we received summons from the High Court,” said Frederick.

In an opposing affidavit, Elias Riasi who is the widow’s eldest son said his mother never sold the house.

“If ever there was a sale, it was a fraudulent one because my mother does not even have the signature appended on the attaché agreement of sale. What is scribbled is the signature of one Zvinoira,” read part of the document.

However, in a founding affidavit Mutandwa claims that the children were notified of the purchase and were given three months’ notice to vacate the premises, but they ignored the order.

“I purchased the rights, title and interests of stand number 7744 Mabvuku from Erina Riasi,” said Mutandwa.

Meanwhile, the family is waiting with bated breath as the deadline of the eviction order draws close.

“We have lived for most of our lives at this house and it is the only property that my mother has left. Right now she is in Murehwa and all these legal fights have broken her heart,” said Frederick.