On Friday, AFM Church Reverend Titus Murefu (68) and his wife Winnet (60) appeared in court charged with fraud involving US$80 000 in a botched deal.
Harare magistrate Shane Kubonera remanded them out of custody to July 19 on free bail. The complainant is a musician and Tec-Aluminium director Tafadzwa Patience Chiminya.
Allegations are that sometime in 2018, the complainant met the Murefu’s at the church, and had a business conversation.
It is alleged that the first accused person misrepresented that he had a farm situated in Glen forest Plot 12, Borrowdale, Harare which needs full utilisation.
The complainant then agreed to invest in the farming venture. They agreed to form a company to run the agricultural concern. Chiminya then injected $80 000-00 USD as capital and the business commenced under the name TITUS MUREFU PROJECTS, and was appointed director of the company with 37% shareholding.
On March 21, Chiiminya returned from South Africa and got a surprise when she visited the farm and discovered that there was no longer any farming taking place, but instead there was a school at the said property.
Upon inquiring, Chiminya was informed that her contract as a director had been terminated, and that she was no longer a member of the same company.
Chiminya never received any dividends from the farming business.
In anger, she visited the farm and took away the Green House Plant worth US$15 000 before making a police report.