By Judith Nyuke
Using his relatives’ houses as collateral, a 55-year-old man in Harare reportedly secured two loans amounting to US$1 060 000 from local banks but then failed to repay them, causing the banks to pursue his relatives for recovery.
The accused person in this matter is Tonderai Chikuni.
The complainant in the first matter is Florence Rwidzai Madake, 57, who Chikuni’s aunt.
It is the State’s case that sometime in February 2023, the accused person and his accomplice Oscar Guti Njanji who is still at large hatched a plan to defraud the complainant.
Chikuni then approached the complainant and misrepresented to her that he was employed as a business consultant by his accomplice.
The accused person deceived the complainant into beleaving that his accomplice had viable business operations at Freda Rebecca Mine, Bindura which required some funding.
Chikuni indicated to the complainant that they had made an application for a business loan at BancABC but it was not successful due to unavailability of collateral security.
It was then that he enticed the complainant into releasing title deed for her house which is situated at stand 16, Giraffe Crescent, Borrowdale West, Harare measuring 2 339 square meters registered under deed of transfer 2772/97.
Further allegations are that Chikuni and his accomplice took the complainant’s title deed on the pretext that they were applying for a 90-day loan facility worth US$252 842.29.
The accused further misrepresented to the complainant that they had the capacity to service the loan within 90 days and would return the title deed thereafter.
Acting on the misrepresentation, the complainant gave the accused person the tittle deed for her house which is valued at US$460 000-00.
Chikuni and his accomplice then successfully made a loan application at BancABC using the complainant’s title deed as collateral security.
He reportedly failed to service the loan and the complainant’s title deeds remained at the bank. The complainant made follow ups but the accused person and his accomplice kept on giving empty promises.
After a while the complainant was apprised on BancABC’s intentions to dispose her house due to non-servicing of the loan by the accused and his accomplice.
The complainant engaged the accused person and his accomplice but nothing materialized. Due to the impending prejudice, the complainant decided to file a police report.
Due to the accused person’s actions, the complainant suffered a potential prejudice of US$460 000.
In the second count, the complainant is Farai Chikuni, 59, who is the accused person’s cousin brother.
Sometime in February 2023 Chikuni and his accomplice Oscar Guti Njanji who is still at large hatched a plan to defraud the complainant.
Chikuni then approached the complainant and misrepresented to him that he was employed as a business consultant by his accomplice.
It is alleged that he deceived the complainant into believing that his accomplice had viable business operations at Freda Rebecca Mine, Bindura which required some funding.
The accused person indicated to the complainant that they had made an application for a business loan at NMB Bank Limited but it was not successful due to unavailability of collateral security.
It was then that the accused enticed the complainant into releasing title deed for his house which is situated at stand 2462 Glen Lorne Township, Harare measuring 6 211 square meters registered under Deed of Grant number 8372/2008.
The accused person and his accomplice took the complainant’s title deed on the pretext that they were applying for a 90-day loan facility worth US$225 000.00.
The accused further misrepresented to the complainant that they had the capacity to service the loan within 90 days and would return the title deed thereafter.
Acting on the misrepresentation, the complainant gave the accused person the tittle deed for her house which is valued at US$600 000-00.
The accused person and his accomplice then successfully made a loan application at NMB Bank Limited using the complainant’s deed of grant as collateral security.
The accused person failed to service the loan and the complainant’s title deeds remained at the bank. The complainant made follow ups but the accused person and his accomplice kept on giving empty promises.
After a while the complainant was apprised on NMB Bank Limited intentions to dispose her house due to non-servicing of the loan by the accused and his accomplice.
The complainant engaged Chikuni and his accomplice but nothing materialized. Due to the impending prejudice, the complainant decided to file a police report.
Due to the accused person’s actions, the complainant suffered a potential prejudice of US$600
Tonderai Chikuni appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa charged with fraud.
He was released on US$500 bail and the matter was rolled over to 17 April.
