A church minister and his wife faced fraud charges yesterday after allegedly cheating a school owner out of $158,000. Titus Murefu and Winnet Murefu appeared before Regional Magistrate Clever Tsikwa at court. The couple received bail and must return for hearing on July 22. Police accuse them of lying about land ownership to steal money from Destiny Achievers School. The private school operates at Plot 15 Glen Forest in Harare.
Court records show the scheme started during 2020 when someone told the school operator about available land. The woman who runs Destiny Achievers School wanted more space for her growing business. The Murefu couple claimed they controlled Lot 12 Glen Forest and could rent it out. She agreed to pay $1,500 each month and moved her school operations there during January 2021. Students attended classes at the location through December of that same year.
The accused pair changed their story during January 2022 and offered to sell the property instead. They created a rent-to-buy deal that raised monthly payments to $2,000. The school owner continued making payments as her students used the facilities for learning. Costs jumped again during January 2023 when the couple demanded $3,950 monthly. She kept paying through September before asking for a written contract that would protect her investment and clarify the purchase terms.
Court records show the scheme started during 2020 when someone told the school operator about available land. The woman who runs Destiny Achievers School wanted more space for her growing business. The Murefu couple claimed they controlled Lot 12 Glen Forest and could rent it out. She agreed to pay $1,500 each month and moved her school operations there during January 2021. Students attended classes at the location through December of that same year.
The accused pair changed their story during January 2022 and offered to sell the property instead. They created a rent-to-buy deal that raised monthly payments to $2,000. The school owner continued making payments as her students used the facilities for learning. Costs jumped again during January 2023 when the couple demanded $3,950 monthly. She kept paying through September before asking for a written contract that would protect her investment and clarify the purchase terms.
