Zanu PF MP fraud trial deferred

By The Standard | Feb. 22, 2017 | 2 Min read

THE trial of Zanu PF Chirumanzu South legislator, Innocent Pedzisai, who is facing fraud allegations after he sold non-existent residential stands to unsuspecting homeseekers, failed to kick off at the Harare magistrates Court yesterday.

BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE

Pedzisai’s trial was postponed to March 9 by Harare magistrate, Nomsa Sabarauta to allow the new prosecutor ample time to study the case.

The legislator, who was the owner of the now-defunct Innop Housing Development Co-operative, is facing three counts of fraud allegations, after he allegedly sold non-existent residential stands to three people prejudicing them of $7 000.

It is the State’s case that sometime between September 2009 and August 2015, Pedzisai unlawfully misrepresented to Gibson Chibvongodze that he had a piece of land on offer.

It is alleged Chibvongodze deposited $2 020 into Pedzisai’s housing co-operative’s bank account and he was allocated the stand and also issued with a copy of title deed, which was in the name of Marimba Residential Properties Limited.

A few weeks later from the date of allocation, Chibvongodze allegedly discovered that someone had put a structure on the same piece of land. Pedzisai allegedly failed to give a satisfactory explanation, leading Chibvongodze to report the matter to the police.

Using the same modus operandi, Pedzisai approached Beavan Mubaiwa and misrepresented to him that he has a piece of land, which was on offer. Mubaiwa paid $2 440 for the no-existent stand and he later discovered that someone had put a structure on the same land, which he was allocated.