The trial of Basil Nyabadza, the former chairperson of the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), is set to begin as he faces accusations of defrauding Blessed Runesu “Bombshell” Geza, a war veteran and prominent Zanu PF central committee member, in a land transaction gone wrong.
The case has captured significant public attention due to its political implications and the high-profile nature of the parties involved.
The Alleged Fraud
According to state prosecutor Anesu Chirenje, the fraud allegations revolve around a land deal made on October 29, 2020. Geza purchased a 42.3504-hectare property from Nyabadza for US$1,362,000.
The sale agreement granted Geza exclusive rights to subdivide, develop, and resell the land, which appeared to be a lucrative investment opportunity.
However, Geza soon found himself at the centre of a fraudulent transaction. Nyabadza reportedly misrepresented important details of the land.
He assured Geza that the property had legitimate title deeds and promised to provide the necessary documents within a month.
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Despite these promises, Nyabadza failed to deliver the title deeds, causing Geza to question the legitimacy of the transaction.
Discovery of the Double Sale
As Geza proceeded with plans to develop the land, he encountered issues while trying to secure subdivision permits from the Department of Physical Planning in Mashonaland West.
During this process, Geza made a startling discovery: the same parcel of land had been sold to another company, Velda Estates.
Realising he had been duped, Geza reached out to Nyabadza to resolve the issue amicably.
To his surprise, he learnt that the sale agreement had been cancelled without his knowledge or consent, effectively stripping him of his property rights.
Legal proceedings and court cases
After suffering substantial financial loss, Geza reported the matter to the police. The court heard the case and revealed the extent of the alleged fraud.
Prosecutor Chirenje confirmed that they had defrauded Geza of US$1,362,000, with no funds recovered to date.
Nyabadza, represented by lawyer Tazorora Musarurwa, appeared before Harare magistrate Tilda Mazhande.
While the trial was initially set to begin, the proceedings have been postponed to a later date. The case is expected to generate further media attention as it progresses.
