By Staff Reporter
GWERU – A 37-year-old man, Takunda Manjokota, has been arraigned before the Gweru Magistrate Courts charged for misrepresenting himself as a registered lawyer and embezzling US$15 000 in a divorce case.
Manjokota, a resident of Senga high density suburb in Gweru, is facing two counts, one for theft of trust property as defined in Section 113(2)(d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23, and for breaching the Legal Practitioners’ Act Chapter 27:07 read with Section 9(1) for practicing without registration.
The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) confirmed that Manjokota is not a registered legal practitioner.
He allegedly falsely claimed to be a registered legal practitioner and convinced the complainant, Gweru businesswoman Lindiwe Moyo who is Director of Leadlet Investments, to engage him to handle her divorce case.
Court papers seen by this publication reveal that Manjokota approached Moyo, a resident of Daylesford, sometime in January 2023 claiming that he was now a registered lawyer and offered to assist her in obtaining a divorce decree.
“…on a date to the prosecutor unknown but during the month of January 2023 and at Nkwande Legal Practioner’s offices, Gweru, Takunda Manjokota, not being a registered legal practitioner, notary public or conveyancer, and in expectation of a fee, commission, gain or reward in any way, assisted Lindiwe Moyo to process or defend divorce proceedings in Bulawayo High court case number HC582/10,” court papers read.
He convinced her to pay him US$1500 (10%) for his services after obtaining the US$15 000 equivalent in Zimbabwean dollars, for a divorce settlement from her estranged husband, businessman Mthonzima Moyo; which he received on her behalf.
Manjokota never gave Moyo the money but instead converted it to his own use.
“Takunda Manjokot[a] held trust property and in breach of the terms in which it was so held, converted the property to his own use, that is to say, Takunda Manjokoto received ZW$16 500 000-00 for divorce settlement on behalf of Lindiwe Moyo from Mthonzima Moyo and was supposed to give it to Lindiwe Moyo after receipt but instead Takunda Manjokota did not give Lindiwe Moyo the money and converted it to his own use,” reads part of the court papers.
When questioned about the money, the state outlines, he initially claimed to have transferred it back to Mthonzima Moyo’s account, but later said he used it to pay for one Mrs. Purazi’s estate.
The total value prejudiced according the state is US$15 000, equivalent to ZWL$16 500 000 using the prevailing bank rate at the time of payment.
Nothing has been recovered and the case has been remanded to the 1st of August 2024.
