A Ruwa woman has appeared in court after allegedly selling her mother’s residential stand in Manyame Park to a Harare man without authority, collecting thousands of United States dollars in instalments before the buyer discovered the property belonged to someone else.
Maudy Nyagupe (42), of Ruwa, appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing fraud charges.
The complainant is Wellington Bure (44), a pump fitter employed by Virtue Trade Petroleum.
The court heard that in March 2022, Nyagupe allegedly approached Bure and falsely claimed she had been authorised by her mother, Judith Mwatireni, to sell residential stand number 6199 in Manyame Park, Chitungwiza, measuring 250 square metres, for US$9,500.
Bure requested to view the property and was taken to the stand by the accused.
Upon inspection, he observed that construction was already underway, with a seven-roomed house at window level. Satisfied with the development, he agreed to purchase the stand through instalments.
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On May 15, 2022, Bure made an initial payment of US$1,300, which Nyagupe acknowledged by signing an affidavit confirming receipt of the money.
Between April 2022 and October 2025, the complainant allegedly paid a total of US$7,300 in monthly instalments, with the accused acknowledging each payment on the same affidavit.
The court heard that Bure repeatedly requested to meet Nyagupe’s mother to formalise an agreement of sale, but the accused allegedly continued giving excuses and failed to arrange the meeting.
In March 2026, Bure discovered that the house on the stand had been completed by another individual, prompting him to realise that Nyagupe had no mandate to sell the property.
He confronted the accused, who allegedly promised to refund the money, but no repayment was made.
Prosecutors say several attempts were made to recover the funds, but Nyagupe became evasive.
The total value allegedly defrauded is US$8,600, and nothing has been recovered.
The matter is pending before the court.
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