Chief in court over illicit land deals

A Gokwe traditional leader last week appeared before the courts for his alleged hand in an illicit land deal that took place in 2011.

Chief Misheck Njelele (59) allegedly divided a farm in Chemagora area into smaller pieces of land before selling them to home seekers without the farm owner’s consent.

He appeared before Kwekwe magistrate Mr Storey Rushambwa facing fraud charges for dividing a farm belonging to Farai Magadzire into smaller pieces of land which he later sold.

The matter will proceed by way of summons after the court released him on free bail.

Prosecuting, Mrs Chipo Hungwe alleged that at a date not known to the State, but in July 2011, Chief Njelele connived with Webster Madhobhi, who has since been arrested over the same case, to swindle home seekers of their money.

The two allegedly then told Bright Ndudzo of Village Chemagora in Chief Njelele’s area, that they had pieces of land for  sale.

The two then proceeded to Plot 27 belonging to Magadzire and measured a 150 by 350 metres piece of land and sold it to the unsuspecting home seeker for US$280.

Chief Njelele and his accomplice would go on to use the same modus operandi to swindle Jane Mnkandla and Eddington Chingani.

The total amount of money swindled is US$840.

Chief Njelele was represented by Mr Edmund Mujaya of Punda and Company Law Associates.