HARARE – Outspoken Zanu PF central committee member Blessed Geza risks seeing collapse of his US$1,3 million fraud case against former Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda) boss Basil Nyabadza after failing to turn up in court.

The fierce campaigner against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid to rule beyond the incumbent’s two term limits was forced into hiding last week after police opened charges against him for allegedly undermining the authority of the President and violence incitement.

When Geza’s case returned before the courts his week, Nyabadza lawyer, Tazororwa Musarurwa put the state on notice to challenge further remand after the war veteran failed to turn up in court to testify as a witness.

Harare Regional magistrate Clever Tsikwa was then forced to roll over the matter to February 26 in anticipation that Geza will show up.

“The State is hereby put on notice that the accused will challenge further remand if the complainant fails to show up on the next date,” Musarurwa said.

During his previous appearance, Nyabadza asked for further particulars from the state, which he said will enable him to prepare his defence.

The former ARDA boss is accused of selling Geza’s land without authority.

It is state’s case that on October 29, 2020, Geza bought a piece of land from Nyabadza measuring 423,504 hectares for US$1,362,000.

Anesu Chirenje representing the state said Geza was granted sole authority to subdivide, develop and sell the piece of land.

It is alleged that when the agreement of sale was done, Nyabadza allegedly misrepresented to Geza that the land had title deeds and promised to avail the document in a month, but failed to do so.

The court heard that while Geza was in the process of obtaining subdivision permits for the land from the department of physical planning in Mashonaland West province, he discovered that Nyabadza had sold the same land to Velda Estates.

It is further alleged that Geza engaged Nyabadza hoping for an amicable solution only to discover that the agreement of sale had been cancelled without his knowledge.