Prosper Biziweki Jailed for Fraudulent Sale of Dzingai Mutumbuka’s Property

Harare Magistrate Ethel Chichera has sentenced Prosper Biziweki (48) to three years in prison after he was found guilty of forging the title deed of a house owned by former Minister of Education Dzingai Mutumbuka, which was fraudulently sold in June 2021.

However, Biziweki will serve a reduced sentence of two years in prison, as one year of his sentence was suspended on the condition of good behavior.

Another individual involved in the case, Tatenda Wakatama, was acquitted because his role was limited to placing an advertisement for the house sale.

Magistrate Chichera criticized the police for not arresting several key suspects who were allegedly involved in the crime. She concluded that the illegal sale and forgery of the house title was part of a syndicate, with several of its members turned into State witnesses.

Chichera also pointed out that Lynna Mlambo, a supervisor at the Deeds Office, had stolen the title deed from the office and was brought in as a State witness by the investigating officer, Tafadzwa Marashe. The police were unable to locate Jonah Ngome, who had sold Mutumbuka’s house using the forged title deed in his name.

According to the court, in June 2021, Wakatama, Biziweki, and Ngome forged the title deed for Mutumbuka’s house, located at 90 Harare Drive, Chisipite, Harare.

They created a counterfeit title deed in Ngome’s name and advertised the house on social media. A potential buyer, Harrison Marange, showed interest, and Kenias Mutyisira helped facilitate the sale.

The parties agreed on a price of US$140,000, with US$90,000 paid as a deposit and the remaining US$50,000 to be paid once the property was registered and transferred.

Marange paid Ngome US$45,000 in September 2021 as part of the deposit, with the remaining US$45,000 due in October 2021.

The transaction was halted after Mangwere from the Registrar’s Office confirmed that the title deed in Ngome’s name was fake.

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