Crimes and Courts Correspondent
Dzingai Mutumbuka, Zimbabwe’s first Minister of Education, has successfully regained his US$600,000 residence in Chisipite, Harare.
This victory comes after a lengthy legal battle that lasted nearly three years, during which his title deeds were stolen, forged, and the property sold to new owners.
Court Ruling
On Wednesday, High Court Judge Justice Nyaradzo Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa ruled in favor of Mutumbuka, ordering Demetria Zirenga and her husband Harrison Marange, the alleged buyers, to vacate the property within 15 days. Failure to comply would result in eviction by the Sheriff. The judge declared Mutumbuka as the legitimate owner of the property, affirming that the title deed held by Jonah Ngome was “fake, fraudulent, invalid, and of no force and effect.”
Background of the Case
The fraudulent activities began when Lynna Mlambo, a supervisor at the Deeds Office, handed over Mutumbuka’s title deed to her boyfriend, Tatenda ‘Shaft’ Wakatama. After forging the deed, it was returned to the Deeds Office, allowing Ngome to sell the house to Zirenga and Marange for US$92,000, despite only paying US$45,000 upfront.
This led to Mutumbuka and his supporters being evicted from their home based on a court order issued by Justice Webster Nicholas Chinamora, who has since resigned amid misconduct allegations.
Justice Munangati-Manongwa criticized Zirenga and Marange’s legal representation for pursuing a case without merit, resulting in their application being dismissed with costs. She emphasized that the couple had no legitimate claim to the property, as they only possessed an agreement of sale and not the actual title deed, which remained in Ngome’s name. The judge also noted Ngome’s absence from court proceedings, questioning his silence regarding the fraudulent claims to his supposed ownership.
This ruling marks a significant resolution for Mutumbuka, restoring his rights to his property and highlighting issues of corruption and fraud within the property registration system in Zimbabwe.
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