Lawyer David Junoir Munashe Donzvambeva Dragged To Court Over Title Deed Fraud

A Harare lawyer has been dragged to court on fraud charges, after he allegedly forged title deeds and other counterfeit documents in an attempt to claim ownership of a Borrowdale property.

The property is valued at US$150,000.

David Junior Munashe Donzvambeva, 31, appeared before Harare Magistrate Jessie Kufa facing fraud charges.

The State alleges that Donzvambeva colluded with three accomplices, who are still at large, to forge title deeds for Stand Number 163 Quinnington Township 4 in Borrowdale.

According to the State, the forged title deed was created in the name of Grace Communications (Pvt) Ltd for land that legally belonged to the complainant.

Prosecutors allege that Donzvambeva and his alleged accomplices used the forged title deed to apply for subdivision of the property before selling one of the subdivided stands to a buyer identified in court as Dr. Chiza.

The State further alleges that the accused person used the forged title deed to institute eviction proceedings against the complainant, prompting investigations that uncovered the alleged fraud.

Investigations by the City of Harare, the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, and the Department of Deeds, Companies and Intellectual Property allegedly established that the land had previously belonged to the State before being allocated to the complainant and that no title deed had ever been issued for the property.

Police allegedly recovered forged title deeds, a forged City of Harare proof of rates payment, purported confirmation letters from the City of Harare and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, a subdivision permit, company registration certificates and founding affidavits that prosecutors allege were prepared by the accused.

The State alleges the complainant suffered prejudice of US$150,000. Nothing has been recovered.

The three alleged accomplices remain at large and investigations continue.