A 62-year-old Harare woman is in soup after allegedly swindled a prospective home seeker out of US$137,000 following a botched property deal.

Accused person, Virginia Tambudzai, Maida, was recently arraigned before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei charged with fraud and granted US$1 000 bail.

The matter was remanded to February 6, 2026.

The complainant in this case is The Mash Family Futures Trust represented by Tinashe Nigel Mashingaidze (32).

The State represented by Oscar Madhume alleges that on July 17, 2025, the complainant intended to buy a residential property.

Having knowledge of the complainant’s financial liquidity, Maida reportedly approached them with an offer to sell a property located at No. 470A Marlborough Extension 3, Harare (held under Deed of Transfer 2259/99) for the sum of US$120,000—a price way below market value.

​The next day, during a meeting at the offices of the complainant’s lawyer, Exactly Mangezi, accused person represented herself as the Executrix Dative of the late Steward Matsikira’s estate (DRH 2312/02).

It is further alleged that she fraudulently claimed to have obtained the necessary consent from the estate’s beneficiaries to sell the property, despite not yet having the Master of the High Court’s formal authority.

Based on these false representations, the complainant was induced to proceed with the purchase.

Accused person reportedly claimed she had the Master of the High Court’s authority (granted 19 August 2024) to sell the Marlborough property for US$120,000.

Based on this, the complainant paid the full amount in cash receiving an affidavit and an acknowledgment of receipt.

It is the State’s case that the subsequent transfer process failed because the estate’s beneficiaries had filed formal complaints and a High Court lawsuit (HCHF 4229/25) to nullify the sale.

​Maida reportedly intentionally concealed news of this legal action and the subsequent High Court ruling on November 6, 2025, which officially nullified the sale.

Instead, she maintained a pretence that the transfer was proceeding smoothly.

The complainant only discovered the fraud via a third party on December 7, 2025.

​When confronted, Maida allegedly became evasive and was found to have provided fake residential addresses on official documents.

Investigations suggest she used the complainant’s funds to settle an unrelated debt.

Accused person was arrested on January 11, 2026.