Harare — A CHITUNGWIZA divorcee who allegedly posed as the surviving spouse of a deceased man and went on to get his house registered in her name last Friday appeared before a Harare magistrate facing fraud charges.

Magistrate Mr Archie Wochiunga did not ask Sibongile Mandienga (39) to plead and remanded her out of custody to December 11.

She was ordered to deposit US$100 bail with the clerk of court and to report once every Friday to the Police Commercial Crime Unit.

It is the State's case that on March 14, 2005 Mandienga -- who was once married to the late Felix Muswelanto -- took the deceased's death certificate from his relatives saying she needed it to get a birth certificate for the child she had with him.

She allegedly proceeded to the Chitungwiza Magistrates' Courts with the death certificate and misrepresented herself to court officials that she was the surviving spouse.

Mandienga allegedly registered the estate of the late Muswelanto in her name.

The State says she asked her relatives to act as witnesses in the matter.

Mandienga was allegedly appointed executor of the estate and went on to register a house in Glen Norah in her name.

Miss Tinashe Kanyemba appeared for the State.