The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
A quest to have a roof over their heads has left many home seekers counting their losses after falling prey to land barons and bogus property developers.
Worryingly, the victims fall for the same trick all the time.
More than 300 teachers from across the country are battling to recover monthly premiums from Africa Homes Properties after the firm failed to meet its part of the bargain.
The Sunday Mail Society has learnt that the company has been collecting payments ranging between US$10 and US$30 since 2009.
The premiums depended on the stand size one required and its location.
Africa Homes Properties has been making its customers believe that it would provide residential stands of 250 square metres and upwards in different towns and cities to fully paid up members.
They claim to be working with local authorities, particularly in Harare and Midlands provinces.
However, the maximum 10-year waiting period has lapsed for many and the supposed land seller has not honoured even a single promise thus far.
Naturally, a ‘‘war’’ has erupted.
“Our intention was to help teachers acquire residential stands, but along the way, things went south.
“We lost a lot of money which then made it difficult for us to fulfil some of the agreements in time.
“The issues are still pending. We are recovering and hoping to fulfil our promises soon,” said Africa Homes Properties trustee Tachiona Chimoga in an interview.
He confirmed that they had more than 300 teachers in their database.
However, Chimoga argued that their premiums “were too low”, an issue that made it difficult for the company to hold up its end of the bargain.
“The subscriptions being paid by these teachers are nominal hence the need for an upward review of the premiums,” he said.
Fetid!
Why have they continued with the scheme if it was not producing desired results?
Some of their clients have either retired or died and reports indicate that the company is not compensating or making alternative plans.
“We are also aware that some have even retired and are no longer able to continue paying so our agreement was that we pay them off after deducting a 30 percent expenses fee. In the event that one dies, their beneficiary should take over the account,” counter argued Chimoga.
The Africa Homes trustee, however, failed to provide supporting documents that they are a registered company.
Scam
National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe is not amused.
He notes this is a typical fraud case.
“My office is neither aware of this issue nor is there such an arrangement between the Government, teachers or private companies. These teachers have been duped!
“It is a case of fraud which they need to report to the police because we do not know this company and neither do we have any such arrangements with teachers which makes all this dubious,” he said.
Minister Garwe urged members of the public to be vigilant as such cases have become prevalent.
Early last year, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zaac) arrested a land developing company for duping 120 land seekers of more than USD$160 000 by developing two pieces of state land in Zvishavane and Shurugwi without relevant approvals by the respective local authorities.
Around the same period, home-seekers who bought stands in Rangemore under Umguza Rural District Council went up in arms with Pure Gold Housing Trust for failing to provide residential stands nine years later.
About 600 people bought residential stands from the land developer in 2012, but it is alleged that less than 200 beneficiaries finally received their stands in 2020.
In Harare South, particularly Churu Farm area, similar cases were reported.
“People should stop being ignorant. We are always warning them against such culprits but out of ignorance, they continue to fall prey,” added Minister Garwe.
Harare City Council’s head of communications and stakeholder management Michael Chideme said the local authority was not involved in deals of such nature.
“We do not know this company. We are not involved in any deals with them, so whatever stands they are talking about, we are not involved,” said Chideme.
“People should not fall for such scams, it is wise for them to approach local authorities to make sure of what they are getting themselves into before making payments.”
Real estate experts said issues of land or stand purchase have become complex of late because of a lot of criminal elements involved.
They said the public should follow proper procedures, highlighting the need to visit local authorities or even the relevant Ministries to verify companies and deals.
Shuttered dreams
“I joined the Africa Homes scheme in 2009 together with my mates when the company visited our school. We immediately started paying our premiums as agreed. Initially, I was paying US$10 (or equivalent in local currency) per month. My colleagues and I are now long due for allocation, but nothing has come through,” revealed one of the disgruntled teachers.
“Not even a single person has received a stand from Africa Homes. Surprisingly, they recently requested us to increase our monthly payments to US$20 arguing that it was going to help them secure land for distribution.”
The supposed land seller is now said to be playing hide and seek with clients.
Similarly, some of the victims have since lost hope of either recovering their money or securing the stands.
“I have tried to follow up but nothing has worked out. Visiting their offices is also in vain. Either you get flimsy explanations or they totally don’t attend to you at all,” said a Harare-based secondary school teacher, who started paying his premiums when he was still working in Kwekwe.
Based on the agreement he signed, he was supposed to have been allocated his Harare stand in 2020.
“I am now retired and still do not have a place I call home. My workmate, who was also part of the scheme for 10 years, died last year. We have lost all hope and we are pleading with relevant authorities to help us,” added an elderly educator who only identified himself as Mr Mandaza.
However, none of the victims has so far made a police report.
