Gweru Couple released on Bail Amidst Forgery Charges

Itai Mazire

A Gweru businessman and his wife, Charles and Zodwa Simbi, have been granted bail by the Masvingo High Court. The couple was convicted of forgery and using a forged document, related to a disputed land ownership case, and initially sentenced to 12 months in prison and a US$400 fine. They appealed the decision, and Justice Sunsley Zisengwe granted them bail pending the appeal, with each required to deposit US$100 or its equivalent in ZiG.

The pair, represented by lawyer Esau Mandipa of Mandipa Makwara and Chikukwa Legal Practice, filed their notice of appeal under case number CRB GWP 319–19/25, arguing that the trial court erred in law and fact when it convicted them on November 3 and sentenced them on November 11, 2025.

Magistrate Dube sentenced the two to 18 months’ imprisonment each for forgery, with six months suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.This left them with an effective 12 months behind bars.

In a turn of events, today morning , Justice Zisengwe ordered the couple to deposit USD 100 or its equivalent in ZiG as bail deposit.
The judge further ordered the couple to remain residing at their given residential address until their appeal is finalized.

The judge further held that the couple’s appeal is full of merit since the Magistrate erred in convicting them holding that their offer letter for a resettlement plot in Kanuck Farm was forged when apparently there was no evidence that the two forged the offer letter in question.