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THE man accused of being a loan shark after he allegedly seized up to 500 stands and houses from his clients says notorious businessman Nicholas van Hoogstraten is his friend, mentor and advisor.
But Frank Buyanga, who according to online reports, is wanted by the British police maintained that he is not a front for van Hoogstraten.
Buyanga’s ability to dispense huge sums of money through his company Hamilton Property Holdings had sparked speculation that he was the controversial property mogul’s running boy.
Van Hoogstraten who is rumoured to be close to President Robert Mugabe has in the past been hauled before the courts for charging his tenants in foreign currency before dollarisation and on pornography charges.
In 2005, he was ordered to pay the family of a slain UK business rival six million pounds in a civil suit after a judge found on the balance of probabilities that van Hoogstraten hired hit men to murder him.
“He is not involved in the business. How can he be involved in a mere US$10-million to US$20-million business,” Buyanga said in a brief interview.
He produced a letter signed by an R Pedzisai, the acting Officer in Charge of Harare police when he was asked about allegations that he was wanted for mortgage fraud in the UK.
However, efforts to unravel his shadowy character hit a brick wall as he was reportedly told to zip his mouth by both the Attorney General (AG)’s office and his lawyer, Farai Mutamangira.
On Friday, property owners who lost houses or stands after failing to repay monies they borrowed from Hamilton Property Holdings reached an agreement at the AG’s office whereby the complainants would get their properties back once they had repaid the money.
However, it emerged from sources close to Buyanga that Hamilton Property Holdings owns over 100 properties in both the medium and plush suburbs of Harare.
The company has allegedly invested over US$10 million.
Buyanga claims that he controls a US$25-million UK fund where he draws resources from.
Close associates said Buyanga cut his milk teeth in business when he was 19 learning the ropes from his parents who were successful in their businesses.
He spread his tentacles and now has interests in UK, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. The operations have different names and partners.
Across the Zambezi, his interests are being challenged as one prominent Zambian personality has taken the company to court over “some sour deal”.
Born in the UK on September 14 1979, Buyanga left North London University after graduating with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Economics and Finance.
Friends said Buyanga belongs to the fast lane league and owns a fleet of vehicles that includes a Rolls Royce with registration plate No.1, an Aston Martin, Bentley, Range Rover, Mercedes Benz sport utility vehicle, a BMW coupe.
He refused to comment on his personal life. This reporter saw him cruising in a grey Mercedes Benz SUV along the bustling Samora Machel Avenue.
He is a man who doesn’t want to talk about his family. The Standard heard that Buyanga is single and lives alone in a six bed-room mansion in Chisipite.
The security is tight at the mansion and there is close circuit television to monitor movements at the place in case intruders try to enjoy the opulence of the place.
Buyanga is said to be into charity work as well as being a deacon with Zaoga and is normally seen at the CCCI church along Baines Avenue on Sundays, according to close friends.
A copy of an agreement seen by this paper shows that the businessman had bought properties and the sellers had an option to buy back their properties after an agreed period of time.
If they failed to buy back, at a higher price than originally sold, Buyanga would retain the properties.
Every page of the agreement of sale form was signed by both the seller and the buyer and at the end of the form, the seller would paste his or her thumbprint.
BY OUR STAFF
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