Douglas Mwonzora and Tapiwa Mashakada in Court Over US$22K Fraud
Top MDC officials Douglas Mwonzora and Tapiwa Mashakada have landed in hot water after being dragged to court over a botched US$22,000 rental deal involving a commercial property in Harare.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), represented by Chengetai Guta, was cited as the first accused, while Mwonzora and Mashakada are the second and third accused, respectively. The case, brought forward by Denmark Training Services, represented by Dennis Shoko, centres around a piece of land in Belvedere, Harare, which was allegedly leased to the company under false pretences.
Douglas Mwonzora and Tapiwa Mashakada Fraud Case Details
According to prosecutors, the drama started in September 2023 when Denmark Training Services expressed interest in renting the property. Mashakada, allegedly acting on behalf of the MDC, claimed that the party owned the stand and later got approval from Mwonzora to finalise the deal.
The complainant paid US$22,000 in rental fees, believing everything was above board. But when they tried to start developing the land, they found someone else already occupying it.
After raising concerns with Mwonzora and Mashakada, the complainant was advised to take possession of the land on May 1, 2024, seven months later than the agreed start date of October 1, 2023.
But even on that new date, the stand was still occupied. Despite knowing the land wasn’t available, the MDC allegedly continued collecting rent from the complainant.
Also read: Douglas Mwonzora Challenges High Court Ruling, Seeks to Overturn MDC-T Congress Nullification
City of Harare Confirms MDC Had No Rights to the Land
Things took a turn when the complainant was told the lease had been cancelled and was advised to seek a refund. This prompted him to file a police report.
Further investigations uncovered a crucial detail: the lease agreement between the City of Harare and the MDC had actually been terminated back on August 20, 2023, weeks before the MDC signed the deal with Denmark Training Services.
The council confirmed that the land belonged to the city and that no other party, including the MDC, had legal rights to lease it out. Mwonzora, Mashakada, and the MDC now face serious fraud and misrepresentation charges. The matter has been remanded for further proceedings.
Follow Us on Google News for Immediate Updates
The post Douglas Mwonzora and Tapiwa Mashakada in Court Over US$22K Fraud appeared first on iHarare News.
