A Gweru man will spend five years behind bars for stealing residential stands from prominent Gweru businesswoman Simeli Dube (pictured) and selling them to unsuspecting home seekers.
Mageza Hive (74), was convicted by Zvishavane resident magistrate Sengster Tavengwa after a full trial.
He was convicted together with his accomplice, Orapen Chikoore who sold River Valley Properties housing stands in Gweru’s Hertfordshire suburb through his company, Otichmar Investment on Mageza’s behalf.
Convicting the two, Tavengwa noted that Mugeza was an elderly man and suspended 12 months on condition of good behaviour, a further 18 months were suspended on condition Mageza performs 630 hours of community service at Thornhill Airbase.
Another 30 months were removed on condition that Hove restitutes US$85 000 to River Valley Properties
According to court documents, Mageza was given some housing stands under the government commonage facility when his deceased brother’s farm was repossessed for purposes of urban expansion.
After selling the commonage stands, he encroached into the River Valley Properties’ stands and started selling them to unsuspecting home seekers.
River Properties is the developer of Hertfordshire.
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According to court papers, Hove appointed an agent only known as Chikoore who sold stands owned by River Valley through his company, Otichmar Investments.
Chikoore and his company were also convicted of theft and ordered to restitute River Valley Properties money amounting to US$85 000 or risk having all the stands they sold repossessed.
According to the state outline, in 2017 Hove engaged Otichmar Investments to sell his commonage stands in Hertfordshire suburb.
Mugeza then gave Otichimar a list of stands to sell but some of the stands belonged to River Valley Properties.
River Valley later realised that Mugeza was selling some of its stands and reported him to the police, leading to the arrest of the 74-year-old and Chikoore.
