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Auxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
ACTING Tsholotsho District Administrator, Gloriah Raundi, has been arrested for allegedly duping a land seeker by selling her a plot which was already allocated to someone. Raundi, 31, was appointed acting DA after Tsholotsho DA Nosizi Dube was fired in January this year for allegedly embezzling about $10,000.

The acting DA and two accomplices Mavuka Nkomo, 69, and June Masango, 76, appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Tinashe Tashaya for bail application on Friday.

Raundi is facing two counts of fraud while Nkomo and Masango face one count each. The three accused who are represented by Lison Ncube of Nyoni, Majwabu and Partners were each granted $300 bail.

Tashaya ordered them to report once a week to Bulawayo Central Police Station, reside at their given addresses and not to interfere with witnesses. She remanded them to March 31.

Prosecuting, Nkathazo Dlodlo told the court that sometime in September last year, Thembelihle Ndlovu of Paddonhurst suburb heard that Raundi was selling a piece of land in Umguza.

“Ndlovu went to Raundi’s office and found her with Nkomo and Masango who convinced her to buy the plot. The trio said the plot cost $5,000 and an initial deposit of $3,000 was required,” said Dlodlo.

The court heard that the trio told Ndlovu that the remaining $2,000 was to be paid after relevant paperwork for the stand had been completed. Dlodlo told the court that Nkomo and Masango took her to view the plot.

“On September 18, Ndlovu went to Raundi’s office to pay the initial $3,000 and found her with Nkomo and Masango. They assured her she could develop the plot while awaiting the paperwork,” Dlodlo told the court.

The prosecutor said on December 18, 2014, Ndlovu was approached by one T D Dube who told her that he was the legal owner of the plot and had an offer letter from the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement.

“Ndlovu notified Raundi of the development and she started giving her excuses. She later realised that she had been duped as the plot was not supposed to be sold as it is state land meant for resettlement of the landless,” said Dlodlo.

On the second count it is alleged that Raundi called Ndlovu and told her that an additional $150 was required to sort out the certificate of occupancy. The following day Raundi gave Ndlovu the receipts where she noticed that only $130 was paid and $20 not accounted for.

Ndlovu was prejudiced of $150 and is yet to get the plot she paid for, the court heard.