shloboe boe
Trish Mukwazo, [email protected]
40-YEAR-OLD bogus estate agent from Bulawayo was yesterday convicted of defrauding four victims of a total of US$86,564 under the guise of selling houses and stands.
Mpumelelo Mhlanga, from Douglasdale and the sole proprietor of Ihawu Holdings, orchestrated an elaborate scheme to defraud unsuspecting buyers from 2017. The police launched a manhunt for him in 2021 after he went on the run.
Bulawayo regional magistrate, Mrs Dambudzo Malunga convicted Mhlanga of forgery, four counts of fraud and operating as an unregistered estate agent. He is set to be sentenced today.
In mitigation, Mhlanga pleaded for leniency, stating that he is the sole breadwinner for his two wives and five children. However, in his closing submission, the prosecutor, Mr Owen Mugari, argued that Mhlanga’s actions caused significant financial losses and emotional distress to his victims.
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 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 a 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 Sibanda to report the matter to Bulawayo Central Police Station. Sibanda never recovered his money.
In aggravation, Mr Mugari submitted that Mhlanga violated the victims’ trust through his fraudulent activities, which were carried out over an extended period.
“Mhlanga committed different offences over different periods, showing a clear intent to defraud,” he said.
