Top Harare Female Lawyer Jailed
By Crime and Courts Reporter-A prominent Harare lawyer, Concellia Maheya, has been jailed after being convicted of theft of trust property.
Maheya was last week sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by magistrate Lisa Mutendereki, who ruled that the offencewas committed under aggravating circumstances. Of the sentence, one year was suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
A further year was suspended on condition that she restitutes US$10 000 to the complainant, Mercy Kabvara, by June 19, 2026, through the Clerk of Court at the Harare Magistrates’ Court. The remaining one year is effective.
The court heard that Maheya, formerly a legal practitioner with Maseko Law Chambers, defrauded Kabvara in a botched residential property transaction.
Prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawo told the court that in October 2021, Kabvara sought to purchase a residential stand in Harare and was referred by estate agent Templeton P. Chadyiwa to stand number 2308 in Bluffhill Township.
After viewing the property, Kabvara expressed interest and was introduced to Maheya, who claimed to be acting on behalf of the alleged owner, Zvatinowona Tsitsi Kujeke, who remains at large. Maheya confirmed that the stand was on sale for US$30 000.
The court further heard that Maheya produced a fraudulent deed of transfer for the property, measuring 1 265 square metres, purportedly registered in Kujeke’s name.
On October 29, 2021, Kabvara entered into an agreement of sale, with Maheya signing on behalf of the seller. Kabvara paid US$30 000 in cash, which Maheya was to hold in trust pending the completion of the transfer process, as well as an additional US$500 for conveyancing fees.
However, weeks after the transaction, Maheya failed to provide the title deeds. Investigations by Kabvara at the Deeds Office revealed that the title deed she had been shown was forged. Authorities also confirmed that legitimate title deeds for the stand existed and differed from the fraudulent documents.
On December 3, 2022, Kabvara confronted Maheya, who offered an alternative property—Lot 327, Block B, Hatfield Estate—as compensation. However, the property was under administration by the Master of the High Court, and Maheya had no legal authority to dispose of it, rendering the arrangement invalid.
On February 23, 2023, Maheya signed an acknowledgement of debt, admitting that she owed Kabvara US$30 000.
Further investigations by the City of Harare revealed that stand number 2308 Bluffhill had already been sold in June 2018 to another buyer, Collen Kapende.
As a result of Maheya’s actions, Kabvara suffered a total prejudice of US$30 500.
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