The trial of former Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) chairman Basil Nyabadza, who is facing fraud charges over a US$1.3 million land deal involving ZANU PF central committee member Blessed Geza, has been postponed.
The case, which was set to begin before Harare regional magistrate Tilda Mazhande, was delayed after Nyabadza, through his lawyer Tazorora Musarurwa, requested additional details from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prepare his defense.
Nyabadza allegedly sold a 423.5-hectare land parcel to Geza on October 29, 2020, for US$1,362,000, granting him exclusive rights to develop and sell it. However, he is accused of later selling the same property to Velda Estates without Geza’s consent.
The former ARDA boss reportedly assured Geza that the land had title deeds and would be transferred within a month, but this never happened. While Geza was in the process of obtaining subdivision permits, he discovered that the sale had been nullified without his knowledge.
Nyabadza is now demanding a breakdown of how the US$1.3 million loss was calculated and evidence of payments, including bank statements or receipts, before proceeding with his defense.
The trial is now expected to commence on February 24.
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