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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Reporter
A FORMER Bulawayo City Council (BCC) employee and a bogus estate agent defrauded homeseekers of nearly US$200 000 and R1 million through selling non-existent housing stands to at least 33 people.

The two were not working together and they committed the crimes between 2013 and 2019.

Police said Freddy Ndabalime Dube (42) who worked at Lobengula Housing Office got away with US$155 060, R144 950 and $33 800 after selling non-existent stands to homeseekers.

Bulawayo deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said Dube is facing 22 counts of fraud after duping homeseekers between 2013 and 2016.

She said the suspect used to live at house number 19 Overbury Road, Southwold and has been on the run since the case was reported.

“The accused was employed by BCC and was stationed at Lobengula Housing Office. In the period between 18 June 2013 and 9 April 2016 the accused person unlawfully and with intent to deceive complainants misrepresented to them that he had residential stands in Pelandaba West suburb” she said.

Asst Insp Msebele said Dube was paid varying amounts by different complainants which was towards the purchase of the stands and he never provided them with said stands resulting in the complainants being prejudiced of their money.

The total value prejudiced by the accused is US$155 060 and R144 950.”

Asst Insp Msebele said the accused is on the run.

She said police are also looking for Elliot Mharadze, a director of Exceed Construction company facing 10 counts of fraud after he also sold stands that did not exist.

“In the period between September 2018 to August 2019 the accused misrepresented to unsuspecting members of the public who were looking for stands and houses to buy that he had housing stands and could also build houses for them. The accused person was paid varying amounts for either the houses or stands.

Asst Insp Msebele said Mharadze also sold one house to more than one buyer.

“The accused is on the run and total value defrauded by the accused person is US$31 505,00, R678 280,00 and $33 800,” Asst Insp Msebele.

She said the two suspects have been on the run since 2019.

Meanwhile, police are also searching for Given Nyathi who entered into a swap deal claiming to own a restaurant yet he was just renting the building in 2007.

Asst Insp Msebele said after paying $2 million the victim discovered that he had been defrauded and Nyathi vanished.

“Accused offered the complainant the restaurant which did not belong to him while the complainant offered the accused a house in Bulawayo. The two signed agreements of sale to transfer the properties as agreed. The complainant later discovered that they had entered into a fraudulent deal after failing to successfully transfer ownership of the restaurant after the actual owner of the restaurant came into the picture. The accused is yet to be located. The total value defrauded was ZW$2 100 000 in 2007,” said Asst Insp Msebele.

She appealed to members of the public who might have information on the whereabouts of the three suspects to report to any nearest plice station. — @nqotshili