THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has launched an investigation into the alleged illegal sale of part of the late national hero and Lands and Agriculture minister Perrance Shiri’s estate.
It is alleged that some of the late former Air Force
commander’s children were behind the illegal sale of his assets, a year after
the decorated soldier died from COVID-19 complications.
NewsDay understands that Shiri’s daughters, Tatenda and
Cynthia allegedly connived with Tawanda Zulu, who is reportedly “Shiri’s son”,
and sold Shiri’s Rarai Lodges at Arcadia Dam in Bindura for US$1 million to one
Kangara, son of the late gold miner, Kudzai Kangara.
All the three are beneficiaries of the late Shiri’s
multi-million-dollar estate. Shiri’s Rarai Lodges have since been rebranded to
Kangara Resort.
The matter is being investigated by Zacc under case
reference number HCR116-09-21.
Shiri’s other daughter Rufaro Stephanie, also a beneficiary
of his estate, has reportedly made an application at the High Court seeking to
reopen her father’s estate, citing irregularities in the execution process,
which includes appointment of executor.
She argued that as the Shiri family trust executor, the
resort could not have been sold because it was part of the assets under the
family trust.
Rufaro also alleged that the farming area of the properties
where Shiri’s Rarai Lodge is located now belonged to Zulu. She claims that Kangara, who has taken over
the resort, is hosting musical gigs every Saturday.
Social media fliers also reveal that Kangara hosts gigs
during weekends at Arcadia Dam charging US$20 for VIPs and US$10 for the
general public.
Last weekend, musicians Tocky Vibes and Gemma Griffiths
held a gig at the farm.
Rufaro said she was not consulted when her siblings and
Kangara sealed the deal.
“I have distanced myself from anything to do with the
estate. I don’t understand how the resort was sold. At first, they claimed it
belonged to the government, but I knew that was a lie because my father would
not have invested so much in a property that didn’t belong to him. So here we
are today. They have sold the resort to Kangara for US$1 million. The question I have for Kangara is
how could he have bought something before liquidation? Did he even do due
diligence inquiries prior to purchasing the properties?”
Zacc spokesperson John Makamure confirmed that the matter
was under investigation. “We have the case and we are investigating it,” he
said.
Efforts to get a comment from Kangara were fruitless as his
number was unreachable.
Rufaro also challenged the appointment of former
Attorney-General Sobusa Gula-Ndebele as executor of the late national hero’s
estate, accusing him of bias.
She also accused her siblings Cynthia and Tatenda of
drafting a fake 1995 will purported to have been prepared by Shiri, which
allocated them more inheritance than the “authentic will”.
In the 1995 will, Shiri bequeathed 50% of his bank savings
and insurance policies to his now late son, Titus and the other half of savings
to Tatenda and Cynthia, and all other children yet to be born.
A death notice filed at the master of the High Court showed
that Tatenda, Cynthia, Zulu, Rufaro Stephanie and Tanaka Shiri, reportedly also
known as Tanaka Musvamhiri, were listed as children and beneficiaries of the
late Shiri’s estate.
Rufaro questioned why Tanaka and Zulu were included in the
distribution list when they reportedly had no national identity documents
bearing Shiri’s name, as well as why the other children received shares on
Shiri’s properties when the 1995 will stated that they would only get bank
proceeds.
“Tawanda stayed with the family for 10 years and still has
no ID. Why is Tanaka included in the distribution account as Tanaka Stephanie
Shiri when she has no ID? Tanaka is said to have taken DNAs with an uncle and
the DNAs matched above 90% to suggest that he is her real father. And then on
the master’s appointment, if he was appointed by the will, why is the executor
dative not testamentary and the document has a stamp for the 20th when signed
on the 21st of August.”
She questioned why a public office would forget to change
date stamps.
“The letter also shows Mr Sobusa-Gula Ndebele came as an
executor because he was appointed by the Master of the High Court. This proves
the long-standing argument that he was no longer the late’s lawyer, that is why
he didn’t come to read the will.”
Through her lawyers, Tapera Muzana & Partners, Rufaro
Stephanie, wrote to the Master of the High Court on November 3, 2021,
complaining about the deliberate and fraudulent omission of some properties in
the distribution list of the late minister’s estate.
In response to her complaint, in a letter dated November 9,
2021, the Master of the High Court advised her to make a list of the assets
that she alleged were left in the distribution lists.
Rufaro said she would challenge the Master, executor and
Tatenda, Cynthia and Zulu’s shenanigans.
Zulu referred NewsDay to the Master of the High Court.
“Kangara had always had his farm in the said area. The
Lands ministry can attest to that. His (Kangara) involvement in the matter is
not necessary. I will not comment on this issue, but the executor or the Master
of the High court can give you answers to the questions,” Zulu said.
Tanaka said she was very sure that she was Shiri’s
daughter, adding that she had DNA evidence.
“Whoever is making the allegation is selfish. If we go by
the 1995 will, why would the late Shiri list me as a beneficiary to his estate,
if it is monetary when he knew I was not his daughter?”
Cynthia refused to comment and referred all questions to
Gula-Ndebele.
“My father’s estate is being handled by the executor
Ndebele. He is better placed to respond to your questions,” she said.
Repeated efforts to get a comment from Gula-Ndebele were
fruitless as he was not picking up calls.
But in an emailed response to a D Ndlovu of Tapera Muzana
& Partners last week, Gula-Ndebele & Partners stated that they had
handled Shiri’s estate in compliance with the Administration of Estates Act.
“There is no legal basis for expecting a response from our
office. We are actually waiting for the view of the Master of the High Court on
that letter. We have handled the late General Shiri’s estate in compliance with
the law being the Administration of Estates Act and the legally valid will.”
A close relative of the Shiri siblings, who spoke to
NewsDay on condition of anonymity, said the row over the late Shiri’s estate
among his children was an issue of concern.
“What we wanted was proper distribution of our late
relative’s estate in a dignified manner.
We just hope that those involved in the legal procedure of distributing
the estate will follow due process.”
Rufaro said no one was above the law in the Second Republic
— be it a sister or relative, adding that they should face the music and stop
treating her father’s estate like a tuckshop. Newsday
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