HARARE Police Serious Fraud Squad has been ordered to quiz prominent lawyer Wilson Manase on the true ownership of a private farm on the outskirts of the city after it emerged that at one point he separately assisted three parties to assume ownership of the property.
STAFF REPORTER
On April 24 2014, National Prosecution Authority’s representative Chris Mutangadura ordered police to quiz Manase to reveal the rightful owner of Amsterdam Farm which is being contested by Magamba Echimurenga Housing Scheme, late Seke businessman B Ziko’s family and Kilberry Investments owned by Russian investors.
Manase is board chairman of MetBank, Zimbabwe Cricket and founding partner of Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners and administrator of Ziko’s estate.
The property in question is currently being parceled out into residential stands by an unidentified consortium.
Part of Mutangadura’s letter reads dated April 24 2014: “Our main concern is on the status of the property in question in so far as the inventory prepared by Manase and Manase is concerned. This is because of the fact that the surviving children of the late Ziko are claiming derivative rights over the same property despite allegations that it had been long sold. In such circumstances, we wish to establish the bona fides of Manase and Manase in this case.”
He added, “May you kindly obtain a statement from Manase and Manase and the Master of High Court to enable us advise the complainants of their rights in so far as they allege criminality in this matter.”
Manase was not immediately available for comment as he was said to be outside the country and his partner Wellington Pasipanodya declined to comment on the matter.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Magamba Echimurenga Housing Scheme according to documents in our possession was asked to make a payment for stands at Amsterdam Farm by Manase and Manase in 1999.
Manase and Manase then wrote to the war veterans’ Sankorp Holdings saying, “Be advised that Stand No’s 1445, 1546, 1526, 1525, 1524 and 1523 cost $150 000 each and No’s 1547 and 1548 cost $180 000 each. Kindly make arrangements to pay the amount which will be in the sum of $1 260 000 and note that we require a bank cheque or cash only.”
The documents also show that Magamba Echimurenga made the payments but the stands were never transferred to its members.
On the other hand, High Court judge Justice Vernanda Ziyambi issued an admonition order No. 2162/99 in favour of Kilberry stopping the disposal of the land by Ziko, Manase and Manase, Amsterdam of Ordar and the Registrar of Deeds. The matter is still pending at the High Court.
