A HARARE couple has accused former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor , Gideon Gono, of using his political muscle in a case in a dispute over property.
Gono is accusing Clark Clever Makoni and Beverly Aisha Ndonda Makoni of fraudulently transferring his property into their own names whilst it was under their management. According to the State, the couple was appointed to manage Valley Lodge, a property owned by Gono’s Galwex Investments(Pvt) Ltd.
It is alleged that the couple later changed the directorship of the company. But the couple denies the charge and claims being targeted by Gono and other individuals with political muscle.
“The accused person further asserts that these are clearly malicious, frivolous and vexatious allegations being peddled by the complainant in connivance with those who occupy certain positions of influence within the law enforcement agencies or other government- linked institutions who maliciously caused their arrest without any shred of evidence to justify their arrest and/or prosecution,” the couple submitted in its defence. In court, magistrate Sharon Rakafa ruled that the same allegations are currently under trial before regional magistrate Stanford Mambani.
The State alleges that on October 30,2009, Costick Investments (Pvt) Ltd sold all its shares in Lizack and Valley Lodge to Gono’s Galwex Investments (Pvt) Ltd.
In 2017, a company owned by the couple was assigned to manage Valley Lodge as estate agents. They allegedly later changed its directorship.