mbulelo smpofu
Trish Mukwazo, [email protected]
A BULAWAYO real estate agent who defrauded seven individuals of US$153 034 under the pretence of selling houses and stands was yesterday sentenced to 29 years and two months in prison.
Mpumelelo Mhlanga, (40), the sole proprietor of Ihawu Holdings, was convicted of forgery, seven counts of fraud, and operating as an unregistered estate agent by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs Dambudzo Malunga.
However, the magistrate suspended 21 years of the sentence, leaving Mhlanga to serve an effective eight years and two months.
The suspension includes four years conditional on Mhlanga restituting four victims and 17 years on condition of good behaviour over the next five years.
Mrs Malunga condemned Mhlanga’s actions as a gross violation of trust, as he preyed on the dreams of home seekers, and caused irreparable harm.
“The courts also took into account that the offender pleaded guilty to all the charges, showing remorse. However, he committed very serious offences, prejudicing home seekers of huge amounts of money,” said Mrs Malunga during sentencing.
The court heard that between 2017 and 2024, Mhlanga orchestrated an elaborate scheme to defraud unsuspecting home seekers.
The police launched a manhunt for Mhlanga in 2021 after he fled, but he was eventually arrested in May 2024.
In mitigation, Mhlanga pleaded for leniency, citing his role as the sole breadwinner for his two wives and five children. However, prosecutor Mr Owen Mugari stressed the severity of Mhlanga’s actions, which caused significant financial losses and emotional distress.
Mr Mugari revealed how Mhlanga advertised non-existent properties, forged documents, and became evasive after receiving payments.
The court heard that on August 20, 2018, at Ihawu Properties’ office along Jason Moyo Street in Bulawayo, Mhlanga forged the signature of lawyer Ms Nikiwe Ncube on an agreement of sale for a house in Magwegwe West.
Tawanda Shonhiwa and his wife, while searching for a house, came across an advertisement pinned at the Lobengula Housing Office Hall. They contacted Lisa Maphosa, a liaison officer for Ihawu Properties, who introduced them to Mhlanga. Shonhiwa expressed interest in a Magwegwe house valued at US$26 000.
On August 15, 2018, he paid US$24 000 in cash at Ihawu Properties’ office, with the balance to be paid within two months.
However, after paying an additional US$2 800 for change of ownership, Mhlanga became evasive. Shonhiwa later discovered that the agreement of sale was fake, prompting him to report the matter. He suffered a loss of US$27 650.
Another complainant, Ms Rosemary Chanza, intended to purchase a residential flat along Masotsha Avenue and paid US$40 000 to Mhlanga. She never recovered her money.
Mhlanga misrepresented himself as a debt collector, coercing Mr Bongani Nyoni into paying US$3 114 for services that were never rendered. Mr Nyoni also failed to recover his money.
Mhlanga impersonated a real estate agent and sold stand number 768 in Emganwini suburb to Mr Qiniso Sibanda for US$13 000. After receiving payment, Mhlanga became evasive, prompting Mr Sibanda to report the matter to Bulawayo Central Police Station. He did not recover his money.
Another case involves Mr Wellington Makonye who Mhlanga misrepresented to, that he was selling a stand in Parklands for US$18 000 when in actual fact the stand belonged to the late business man Ernest Tekere.
Mhlanga was given the money and vanished, prompting Makonye to report the matter to the police.
Mr Makonye never recovered his money.
Mr Carrington Maseko is another victim who was prejudiced of US$20 000 after Mhlanga misrepresented to him that the late Tekere’s stand was for sale.
“Maseko paid US$20 000 for the stand and Mhlanga became evasive, prompting him to report the matter to the police and never recovered his money,” said Mr Mugari.
Ms Sheila Mlalazi (67) of Lundi Park in Gweru was also prejudiced of a total of US$28 470 after she saw an advertisement of a plot that was purportedly up for sale in Matsheumhlophe suburb prompting her to buy the property.
“Mhlanga became evasive and Mlalazi discovered that the property belonged to a couple, Teenage Hadebe and Michelle Hadebe after she proceeded to the stand and discovered some developments were being carried out,” said Mr Mugari.
Mhlanga offered to reimburse her money but became evasive, prompting Mlalazi to report the matter to the police.
