The Sunday News
Francis Mvalo, Sunday News Reporter
A Bulawayo man has been arrested after he allegedly used a fake National Identity Card to masquerade as the owner of a stand which he then sold for $12 000.
Wilson Banda (51) of 765 Emganwini appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Franklin Mkhwananzi last week facing a charge of fraud. Banda was granted $300 bail and the matter was postponed to 27 March for trial.
Prosecutor, Mr Mclean Ndlovu told the court that sometime last month, Innocent Mapfumo Gandanzara was advised that Justice Ndlovu, an unregistered agent had advertised a residential stand, Number 1968 Mahatshula North in Bulawayo.
The court also heard Gandanzara then phoned Justice Ndlovu as he was interested in buying the stand. After the meeting, the two proceeded to the city council offices to verify the authenticity of the stand.
The two were informed by the city council authorities that the stand belonged to Mleli Ndlovu. The court further heard that Justice Ndlovu told Gandanzara that he was acting on behalf of Mleli Ndlovu and would organise for both parties to meet and finalise the transaction.
On 18 February, Gandanzara in the company of his wife met Banda who presented himself as Mleli Ndlovu, the owner of the residential stand. The court also heard that he produced a National Identity Card in the name of Mleli Ndlovu.
“The accused took them to residential stand 1968 Mahatshula North, Bulawayo and informed the complainant that the stand was worth $12 000,” the prosecutor said.
It was further heard that on 24 February, an agreement of sale was drafted and Banda instructed Gandanzara to transfer $5 000 into his FBC account number 6017041001454513. The court also heard that Gandanzara also transferred $700 into Banda’s EcoCash account 0771803204 and $300 into Justice Ndlovu’s EcoCash account.
Mr Ndlovu told the court that on 10 March, Gandanzara received a phone call from a Mrs Rushwaya who informed him that she bought the same stand from Mleli Ndlovu who is based in Durban, South Africa. It was then established that Banda was an imposter and he was not Mleli Ndlovu.
It was also further established that Banda opened a bank account using a fake National Identification Card in the name of Mleli Ndlovu. As a result, Gandanzara suffered an actual prejudice of $6 000 and nothing was recovered.
