A Budiriro woman has appeared in court accused of defrauding a housing cooperative of more than US$269,700 after allegedly claiming she had government-approved residential stands at Gilstone Farm in Manyame.
Members of the cooperative who paid deposits and began building houses were later evicted, and their structures were demolished.
Sencia Maponga, 59, of Budiriro 5A, appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court facing fraud charges.
The complainant is Holyland Housing Cooperative Society, represented by its treasurer, Samson Tegwe.
According to the State, Maponga, who is listed as the founder of Hanna's Tears Organisation, a registered private voluntary organisation operating in Harare, approached the cooperative in October 2025.
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Prosecutors allege that she falsely claimed she, together with Peace Mafundukwa and Patrick Nzara, who are still at large, had been allocated land at Gilstone Farm by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
She allegedly offered the cooperative 300-square-metre residential stands for its members on condition that each member paid an initial deposit of US$390.
The State alleges that, relying on those representations, the cooperative mobilised its members, who collectively paid US$269,700 to Maponga and her alleged accomplices. Receipts were reportedly issued, and members were allocated stands before beginning construction.
According to prosecutors, the arrangement collapsed in May 2026 when cooperative members were evicted from Gilstone Farm and their structures were demolished after the Minister of Local Government and Public Works publicly declared the settlements illegal.
The cooperative subsequently reported the matter to the police, leading to Maponga's arrest.
The State alleges that US$269,700 was lost and that none of the money has been recovered.
Maponga was remanded in custody and is expected to return to court on July 31, 2026, for routine remand.
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