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Thubelihle Mabhena Court Reporter
A 45-YEAR-OLD Shurugwi woman who allegedly swindled the owner of the Lounge Bar in Bulawayo of $170,000 in a botched property deal, was yesterday issued with a warrant of arrest after she failed to appear in court.

Phathisani Nkomo of Khumalo suburb allegedly purchased a double storey building in Sizinda suburb for $170,000 from Ethel Mapfidza Zvinavashe in January last year.

Zvinavashe was renting the building from the time she sold it to Nkomo.

When Nkomo demanded the rentals along with the title deeds, Zvinavashe allegedly declined to pay the rent and to hand over the title deeds, the court heard.

Bulawayo provincial magistrate Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze issued Zvinavashe with a warrant of arrest after she failed to appear in court to be given a trial date.

Prosecuting, Charles Danda said on January 28, 2013, Zvinavashe entered into an agreement with George Zingani to sell a double storey shop.

“The shop was to be sold under deed transfer for $160 000,” said Danda.

The court heard that the agreement of sale was drafted by Cheda and Partners situated along Jason Moyo and 8th Avenue and Zingani paid Zvinavashe $158,000.

Danda told the court that sometime in March last year Zingani decided to sell the property to Nkomo since they had not yet changed the title deeds.

The trio agreed to transfer the property directly to Nkomo.

“Zvinavashe together with her husband Bobby Zvinavashe, Nkomo, Zingani and Tendai Chikowore went to Cheda and Partners and changed the agreement of sale into Nkomo’s name,” said Danda.

The court heard that the new agreement of sale was drafted in Nkomo’s name and signed by all parties.

Zvinavashe later demanded money from Nkomo to clear a loan so that they could obtain the title deeds that were being held by the bank as surety.

Nkomo gave her $10,000 and she signed a handwritten acknowledgement of receipt.

From then on the arrangement was such that Zvinavashe was now renting the shop from Nkomo.

The court heard that Zvinavashe later defaulted paying rentals, proceeded to Kingdom bank and collected the title deeds.

When Nkomo started demanding the title deeds and rentals from Zvinavashe, she told him that she never sold the shop to him and was not renting.

The total amount defrauded was $170,000 and nothing was recovered.