Harare Land Scandal Draws In Deeds Office as Fraud Allegations Mount

A deepening scandal in Harare’s property sector is unmasking complex schemes involving false title deeds and questionable land ownership. The Deeds Office has become embroiled in the situation, sparking intense scrutiny.

An investigation by the Harare City Council (HCC) is underway, targeting the alleged creation of fake property deeds in Greendale. This involves stands 154 to 166 in Amby Township, where cluster houses have since been constructed.

The council’s subcommittee, led by Ward 16 Councillor Denford Ngadziore, is tasked with untangling the irregularities. The involvement of such senior city officials in these investigations underscores the magnitude of the issue at hand.

The council appointed the subcommittee in May 2024. Its mandate covers determining whether town planning rules and regulations were adhered to, focusing specifically on the allocation of 13 residential stands in a section of Salisbury Township.

Baytany Private Limited, a key party in this controversy, has emerged as one of the beneficiaries of these controversial land deals. The company is represented by Muchada Legal Practice, whose lawyers are actively defending Baytany’s legal standing amidst accusations of irregularities.

In a letter addressed to the chairperson of the HCC’s planning subcommittee, Baytany’s lawyers stressed that their client acquired the land legally. The land, covering over eight hectares, was initially purchased in the 1980s from what is now Stanbic Bank.

According to Baytany, financial struggles hindered their plans to develop the land at that time. Following the death of one of their shareholders, they discovered that the title deed was missing when attempting to evaluate the value of the deceased’s shares.

To their shock, Baytany learned that an individual named Keith Moses Sherry had posed as a company representative, presenting false documents to claim the land. After further investigation, it was revealed that Sherry’s identity was fraudulent. This discovery prompted Baytany to report the case to the police, where a fraud investigation is now underway.

While the case has taken a twist, the chief registrar of the Deeds, Companies, and Intellectual Property Office, Willie Mushayi, has distanced his office from any knowledge of the affair. The questions surrounding how fake documents were created remain unanswered.

However, Councillor Ngadziore expressed relief that Baytany’s legal team acknowledged the HCC’s findings. The subcommittee had previously determined that the documents relating to the sale and ownership of the land were forgeries. Even the signatures and letterheads used in the transactions had been flagged as suspicious.

This revelation puts a glaring spotlight on the systemic flaws within Zimbabwe’s land management systems. The audit revealed that individuals used outdated letterheads, signed by officials no longer in positions of authority, to execute fake land deals. Such exploitation of weak regulatory enforcement continues to plague Zimbabwe’s real estate sector.

Baytany’s case exemplifies the broader crisis gripping Harare’s property market, where millions of dollars are at stake. With fraudulent actors embedded within trusted institutions, buyers, investors, and the general public face enormous risks.

Ngadziore’s subcommittee has vowed to dig deeper into the matter, ensuring that no stone is left unturned. If more cases like Baytany’s surface, it could unravel a far-reaching network of deceit, extending beyond Harare.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has been alerted to the scandal. Their involvement could be pivotal in holding those responsible accountable and restoring order to the capital’s land management systems.

The stakes are high, and the public is watching closely. With Baytany’s cooperation and the HCC’s ongoing investigations, this land scandal might serve as a critical turning point in addressing corruption within Harare’s real estate sector.

While fraud and corruption in the property sector aren’t new in Zimbabwe, this case has forced authorities to confront the depth of these issues. The full extent of the involvement of public offices like the Deeds Office remains to be seen.

The spotlight is now on how swiftly and effectively the authorities, including ZACC, will handle this case.

The Zim Bulletin