Harare Land Baron Faces New Fraud Allegations in Court

A notorious land baron, Tawanda Oswell Jambwa, has been charged with fraud once again over land sales in Msasa Park, Harare.

Jambwa appeared in court but was not required to enter a plea, with his trial set for January 9 next year.

Hebrone Vengayi Magaisa, the first complainant, hails from New Msasa Park Hatfield, Harare.

Jambwa, along with others, allegedly invaded a 279.8-hectare plot in Chadcombe back in 2012, belonging to Msasa Park Private Limited.

In July 2023, Msasa Park issued notices to halt all illegal land activities on their property.

The company decided to legalize the status of existing settlers by directing payments through their legal representatives, Bruce Tokwe Commercial Law Chambers.

Despite this, Jambwa, aware of Msasa Park’s ownership, allegedly conspired with Rami to sell stands fraudulently.

Rami advertised a 400-square-meter residential stand for US$12,000 on social media, drawing Magaisa’s interest.

After confirming the sale with Rami, Magaisa was directed to Jambwa for the transaction’s completion.

Jambwa then showed Magaisa the land, who paid US$9,500 directly to Jambwa without receiving any official receipt.

The fraud was uncovered when Magaisa learned the stand was legally owned by Msasa Park, leading to a police report.

The second victim, Feris Dzemunyasi, was similarly deceived by an advertisement from Yauma Properties on social media.

Dzemunyasi paid US$5,000 for a plot, only to discover later that it was part of Msasa Park’s estate.

Both victims filed police reports after realizing their purchases were from unauthorized sellers.

Chyvonne Nhira represented the State in these proceedings, highlighting the ongoing battle against land barons in Harare.

This case adds to the growing list of legal actions against individuals exploiting desperate home seekers.

Jambwa’s activities underscore the challenges of illegal land sales in urban areas of Zimbabwe.

The court will now determine the extent of Jambwa’s involvement in these fraudulent land deals.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding land ownership and development in Harare.

Legal proceedings will continue to unfold, potentially setting a precedent for future cases against land barons.