Two Glen View women have reported an alleged Harare female land baron to law enforcement agents after allegedly being duped of more than US$4 500 in a botched residential stands deal, in the latest case highlighting the dangers facing prospective home seekers in the capital.

The complainants, Evelyn Dera and Melody Mushapaidze, both of Glen View, have since filed a report at Highfield Police Station, where the matter was recorded under RRB 6926543.

The women allege that they were lured into purchasing residential stands in the Lusaka area of Highfield by (name of alleged land baron), who was introduced to them through her daughter-in-law.

"We trusted her because she had been recommended by her own son’s wife, and we believed everything was genuine," said Dera.

The two women said they each paid a commitment fee of US$100 before making an initial instalment of US$800 towards the purchase of the stands.

According to the complainants, the seller had initially priced each stand at US$5 000, but later offered them a discounted price of US3 500.

Encouraged by the apparent goodwill, the women continued making payments until they had collectively lost more than US$4 500.

Trouble reportedly began when they sought to take occupation of the stands.

The women allege they were shocked to discover that the stands they had been promised had already been developed by other people.

Rather than refunding the money or allocating the agreed stands, the alleged seller allegedly kept promising to show them alternative stands in different locations.

"Whenever we questioned her about the stands we had paid for, she would tell us she had found other stands for us and asked us to be patient. Every time we were promised another site, nothing materialised," Dera said.

The complainants further allege that the repeated promises eventually gave way to evasive behaviour, forcing them to seek police intervention and consider instituting legal proceedings.

They are now demanding either the allocation of genuine residential stands or a full refund of the money they paid.

The case adds to a growing list of disputes involving alleged land barons, who continue to prey on desperate home seekers amid Harare's acute housing shortage.

In recent years, the Government has intensified its crackdown on land barons accused of illegally parcelling out State, municipal and privately owned land, often without approved layouts, title deeds or the necessary planning approvals.

Authorities have repeatedly warned members of the public against purchasing land from unverified sellers, urging prospective buyers to confirm ownership, subdivision permits and development approvals with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, local authorities and the Deeds Registry before making any payments.

Government has also vowed to bring land barons to book, describing them as criminals who undermine orderly urban planning, fuel the proliferation of illegal settlements and expose innocent home seekers to financial losses.

Several illegal housing developments around Harare have been earmarked for demolition or regularisation after investigations revealed that the land had been illegally allocated without the requisite approvals.

As the fight against illegal land allocations gathers momentum, authorities continue to urge residents to exercise due diligence and report suspected fraudulent land deals to the police before committing their hard-earned savings.

While police investigations continue in the Lusaka, Highfield scam, efforts to obtain a comment from the alleged land baron were unsuccessful by the time of going to print.