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Melody Baya Court Reporter
TWO witnesses testified in a fraud case involving Bulawayo City Council human resources officer, Maxwell Sibanda, who allegedly fraudulently sold housing stands. The witnesses said they paid less than the $10,000 prescribed selling price for stands after negotiating with Sibanda, who allegedly pocketed the money.

Sibanda pleaded not guilty to fraud and was remanded out of custody to October 27. Lloyd Ndlovu, 29, a lecturer at Nust yesterday told magistrate Gladmore Mushowe that he paid Sibanda $9,000 plus $300 for drafting the agreement of sale but only recovered $3,000 after he discovered from media reports that Sibanda had duped him.

“Sibanda and I agreed on a price of $9,000 and he convinced me within a month the land will be serviced but after a month nothing had been done,” said Ndlovu.

“I decided to reverse the deal and take back my money. I made the decision after discovering from media reports Sibanda had illegally parcelled out stands that belonged to the city council,” he added.

Another witness Sizo Ncube said he bought a stand from Sibanda and signed an agreement of sale.

“I bought a stand from Sibanda and signed an agreement of sale. I made a deposit of $5,000 and I’ve only recovered a $1,000 from him,” said Ncube.

Prosecuting, Jeremiah Mutsindikwa told the court that Sibanda tendered to the BCC a fake special power of attorney authorising him to sign documents necessary for subdivision and other negotiations in respect of the remaining extent of 100 acre lot of Henry Mangizan in the district of Bulawayo, which are valued at $120,000.

Sibanda, he added, subdivided the remaining extent without the permission from the City Council and went to sell the stands knowing fully well that the stands belonged to Hayler and Company.

The landowners had deserted their land, which BCC could repossess due to non payment of rates.