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Court bars relatives from selling convicts’ property

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HIGH Court judge Justice Mary-Zimba Dube on Tuesday granted the Prosecutor-General (PG)’s Office an interdict barring two convicted thieves, Patrick Muchiza and Trymore Manyepe’s relatives, from selling houses allegedly bought from proceeds of their criminal activities.

HIGH Court judge Justice Mary-Zimba Dube on Tuesday granted the Prosecutor-General (PG)’s Office an interdict barring two convicted thieves, Patrick Muchiza and Trymore Manyepe’s relatives, from selling houses allegedly bought from proceeds of their criminal activities. CHARLES LAITON SENIOR COURT REPORTER

The two men together with their accomplice, Milton Makaripe, were slapped with seven-year jail terms each for breaking into Wellington Kawanza’s vehicle and stealing $147 000 in February this year.

The PG’s Office through chief law officer, Chris Mutangadura, last week made an urgent chamber application against Ruvarashe Delight Masunda and Tyron Nyamhunga, whose details had allegedly been used in acquiring the properties by Muchiza and Manyepe.

The Registrar of Deeds, who was cited as the third respondent in the matter, was ordered not to administer any transfer of house number 367 Bradfield, Hopley in Harare and stand number 22968 Unit L in Chitungwiza.

The court heard that on February 1 this year, Kawanza parked his motor vehicle, an Isuzu KB300 at corner Five Avenue and Leopold Takawira and went into 4 Langside Court to see a friend.

Upon his return about 15 minutes later, he discovered that someone had broken into his car and stole a bag containing $147 000, African Traffic Register, car keys, his birth certificate and company documents.

On the second day, after the matter had been reported to police, information was received that Muchiza of Zengeza, Manyepe of Mbare and Makaripe of Kuwadzana Extension had committed the offence.

Investigations showed that on the same day the three men had used Nicholas Chinyangare’s vehicle after leaving him at OK Five Avenue where he had been arrested by security guards for not paying for bubble gums.

Further investigations by police showed that Muchiza and Manyepe paid Chinyangare $500 for using his vehicle and thereafter Muchiza proceeded to Chitungwiza where he gave his brother-in-law Gibson Masunda $35 000.

Muchiza is said to have purchased two vehicles from his other brother-in-law Philip Masunda and the house which he later registered in his wife’s name, Ruvarashe Delight Masunda.

His accomplice Manyepe is said to have bought a house stand number 22968 Unit L in Chitungwiza which he registered in his son’s name Tyron Nyamhunga and also bought a motor vehicle, Toyota Vitz through his brother-in-law Norman Mafunga.

Their accomplice, Makaripe is said to have imported a Subaru Forester on February 5, and registered it in his brother’s name.

On July 10 this year, Muchiza and Manyepe were arrested by police while Makaripe was arrested on July 18 whereupon conviction the vehicles were forfeited to the State.