ZANU PF Simbi Couple Acquitted in High Court Land Fraud Case
Former Gweru Urban councilor and ZANU-PF member, Charles Simbi and his wife who were initially convicted of fraud and forgery over an alleged fake land offer letter used to claim gold rich land at Kanuck Farm, were later acquitted by the High Court on appeal after the conviction was overturned.
Dumisani Ndlovu 
Masvingo - The High Court of Zimbabwe has acquitted former Gweru councillor Charles Simbi and his wife Zodwa Thembinkosi Simbi after overturning their conviction for forgery and fraud involving an alleged fake land offer letter.
On 29 May 2026, Justices Dube-Banda and Sunsley Zisengwe, sitting on the bench, set aside both the conviction and sentence.
“The appeal against conviction on both counts is upheld, and the sentence is accordingly quashed. The decision of the court a quo is set aside and substituted with the following:
"Each accused is hereby found not guilty and acquitted on both charges,” reads the judgment.
The couple had earlier been convicted by the Gweru Magistrates Court and sentenced to an effective 12 months imprisonment, alongside fines of US$400 each, after being accused of attempting to secure a 10-hectare plot at Kanuck Farm using what the State described as a forged resettlement offer letter.
The ruling was issued under Case No. HCMSCR1530/25 by the Masvingo High Court.
During the trial, State witnesses, including lands officials and investigators, told the court that the document was not found in official government records and had not been issued by any recognised authority.
District Lands officials and other state witnesses maintained that the letter did not originate from their offices, describing it as unauthenticated and inconsistent with official land allocation procedures.
The prosecution argued that the document was a fabrication intended to misrepresent ownership rights over state land, forming the basis of the fraud and forgery charges.
Despite the State’s position, the High Court found that the trial court had erred in its evaluation of evidence and legal findings, leading to the reversal of both conviction and sentence.
The ruling effectively cleared the couple of all criminal liability in the matter, restoring their legal standing.
The Simbis had spent several weeks in custody following their conviction before being granted bail pending appeal.
Their case attracted public attention due to its connection to land allocation disputes and allegations of document forgery involving state land.
