Court dismisses Simbi application to quash 'fake offer letter' case

By Dumisani Ndlovu

GWERU – Former Gweru Urban councillor and Zanu PF Midlands Provincial Member, Charles Simbi, is set to face trial after the Gweru Magistrate Court today dismissed an application by his co-accused wife, Zodwa Thembinkosi Simbi, seeking to compel the court to dismiss a case involving an alleged fake offer letter.

Magistrate Beaulity Dube, in her ruling, stated that despite the application’s argument citing a lack of evidence, the state had presented compelling testimony from authentic witnesses. Simbi is now scheduled to be put on his own defence on October 3rd.

The court heard testimony from key state witnesses, including Nyasha Manyakara, the District Lands Officer, who disowned the offer letter at the centre of the dispute. His evidence was corroborated by Edwin Shindi, the former Vungu Rural District Council CEO, Gweru District Cartographer Zivanayi Gayihayi, and Gweru Rural Police Station investigating officer Sergeant Kizito Mahachi. Their consistent evidence led to the dismissal of the application.

Charles Simbi, who was arrested on May 7, 2024, is accused of using his wife, Zodwa Thembinkosi Simbi, to forge an offer letter for a 10-hectare plot of land where significant gold deposits were later discovered. The land in question is part of Kanuck Farm, which is said to be owned by Melvin Van Gopal, whose title deeds were presented in court. This ownership, however, remains disputed by Simbi's lawyer, Esau Mandipa, who argued that the land dispute is currently before the High Court, meaning no one definitively owns it at present.

The forgery allegations stem from a long-standing dispute involving Simbi and his wife on one side, and Nyengeterai Tsvangirai and Musiyiwa Paradza of New Generation Mining Syndicate on the other. Paradza and Tsvangirai’s syndicate are the current owners of the disputed mining claims, known as Pretty Polly 33 Mine.

According to court documents, Simbi had initially mined the area in 2022 after receiving authorisation from Tsvangirai's late husband, Casper Tsvangirai. However, he reportedly pulled out after citing unimpressive gold samples. Subsequently, Nyengeterai Tsvangirai partnered with Paradza to form New Generation Mining Syndicate, which later discovered rich gold samples and registered the gold claims on nine hectares.

Upon learning of these new, promising discoveries, Simbi allegedly returned and managed to register one claim, attempting to encroach into the New Generation Mining Syndicate’s territory. Following this setback, Simbi is accused of using his wife’s name to forge an offer letter claiming ownership of the land where New Generation Mining Syndicate was operating, and then conducting farming activities to disrupt their mining operations.

The dispute escalated to the courts, where Simbi allegedly produced the fake offer letter, claiming the land belonged to his wife. However, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development distanced itself from the document.