By A Correspondent- A father and daughter have however, broken ranks with the norm, serving each other with lawsuits over property ownership.

Alphios Mashoko Mufandaedza (77) was dragged by his daughter Elizabeth Shamiso Bayai (38) and son-in-law Silas Bayai (45) to court for allegedly tricking them into buying a non-existent house all because his son-in-law did not pay his daughter’s bride price. He denied charges of fraud against him before Bulawayo magistrate Shepherd Munjanja.

Appearing for the State, prosecutor Nathan Marime presented Mufandaedza’s ordeal before the court.

In August 2001, Mufandaedza bought a house for his daughter in Entumbane before she got married.

In the same month Elizabeth got married to Silas and they made initial plans to buy a marital house before Mufandaedza allegedly came to rescue them after he claimed to have found someone selling land.

“My father told us that the same person who sold him the house he bought for me  had another one in Gwabalanda for sale and would be able to talk to him on our behalf,” said Elizabeth.

Upon agreeing on that deal, Mufandaedza reportedly became the “middleman” and made sure the sale went accordingly from the money transactions to the Agreement of Sale.

State papers noted that after payments Mufandaedza became reluctant to show the couple their new stand.

“Instead of showing us our new place, he started accusing my husband of not paying bride price,” stated Elizabeth.

Persistent on being shown their new house, between November and December 2001 the elderly man allegedly went to show the newly weds a stand in Gwabalanda which belonged to someone else. 

“I noticed that the house was not the one mentioned on the Agreement of Sale but was in someone’s name.

“I also realised that the house listed on the Agreement of Sale belonged to my wife,” said Silas.

Silas, who has been demanding his house from his father-in-law, has not been reimbursed his money or house to this day.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth who allegedly tried to change ownership of the house that her father had bought her to co-own it with Silas was reported to the police by her father who was trying to repossess the house from Elizabeth.

“I then sold the house in 2018 still in my name and my father sued me for that,” stated Elizabeth.

The elderly man was remanded in custody for continuation of trial on Friday.

-ManicaPost