HARARE, May 7 (NewsDay Live) — A Harare magistrate has issued a warrant of arrest for two men accused of misappropriating more than US$52,000 from a deceased estate after they failed to appear for judgment.
Provincial magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai ordered the arrest of Tinashe Pswarayi and his associate, Tauya Masunda, who are facing charges linked to the alleged diversion of rental income from properties belonging to the estate of the late Dr Edward Munatsireyi Pswarayi.
Prosecutors say the pair collected and retained US$52,235 in rental income between June and November 2014, shortly after the death of Pswarayi on June 8 that year.
The funds were allegedly not remitted to the executor or reported to the Master of the High Court, as required under Zimbabwe’s Administration of Estates Act.
Tinashe Pswarayi, a son of the deceased and a trustee of the estate, is jointly charged with Masunda, a director of City Accounting and Secretarial Services, who also served as a trustee of two estate-linked trusts.
According to the State, the estate’s assets were held under two trusts—Tondori 1 and Tondori 2—covering commercial and residential properties in Harare, as well as a majority stake in a farming entity in Beatrice.
The court heard that the accused began collecting rental income immediately after the death of Pswarayi. In June 2014 alone, they allegedly received US$9,835, followed by a further US$42,400 between August and November.
Despite their fiduciary obligations, the pair allegedly failed to account for the funds, distribute proceeds to beneficiaries or disclose the transactions to authorities.
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The case was initiated by Takunda Pswarayi, a beneficiary of the estate, who is entitled to a 10% share of rental income but reportedly received nothing during the period in question.
The alleged irregularities were uncovered in December 2014 after lawyer Caleb Mucheche was appointed executor dative by the Master of the High Court.
Mucheche and another beneficiary, Chenayimoyo Pswarayi, testified that the accused created shell trusts as part of a scheme to divert funds from the estate.
Prosecutor Polite Chikiwa told the court the accused breached statutory obligations requiring individuals holding estate assets to surrender them to the executor or report to the Master.
No recoveries have been made to date, the court heard.
