David Dhlomo (52), a priest at St Martin’s Parish in Hatfield, allegedly sold the house in the same suburb in December 2008 without his brothers and sisters knowledge.
It is said his siblings were supposed to also benefit from the estate and Dhlomo is facing fraud charges before a Harare magistrate.
His trial opened this week before regional magistrate, Mr William Bhila, after the priest’s sister Zondiwe Dhlomo sought legal recourse.Prosecutor Ms Tinashe Kanyemba said the priest was one of the 10 children born to Ms Njini Sizi who died in 2002.
She left behind six children: the priest, the complainant Zondiwe, Rebecca, Richard and Jonathan Dhlomo, and Livingstone Mutimukulu.
The State says in 1999 Ms Sizi gave the deed of grant of the house to Zondiwe so that she could safeguard it in the event of her death.
The State says she did not want the house sold and her children left without a roof over their heads.After her death, Jonathan - the youngest child - stayed at the house until he died in 2004.
The State contends that David, who was now the youngest, took charge of the affairs of the house such as collecting rent from tenants.
In 2005, the priest allegedly teamed up with Richard Sizi, who is now late, Arthur Nyakabawo and Grame Masanjole and registered Njini Sizi’s estate with the Harare Magistrates’ Courts without Zondiwe and Rebecca’s knowledge.
The State alleges that this resulted in David being fraudulently appointed the executor dative.
It is alleged that he subsequently applied for a replacement for a lost title deed, which was then issued in his name in June 2007.
In December 2008 the accused is said to have sold the house to Barbra and Emmanuel Vhutuza and the property was transferred into the new owners’ names in February
2009.
At this point his sister Zondiwe made a police report.
