Fresh controversy has engulfed Gray Homes Construction, with a domestic worker accusing the company of taking her life savings and failing to deliver a kitchen project she had hoped would transform her parents’ home.
In an emotional post that has rapidly spread across Facebook, Letwin Chitemere claims she was left financially and emotionally shattered after paying a total of US$2 800 for construction work that allegedly never materialised.
According to Chitemere’s widely shared account, she spent more than a year saving money from her wages as a maid, driven by a desire to surprise her parents with a newly built kitchen. She says she approached Gray Homes after encountering the company’s services online and was assured the project could be completed within her budget.
Chitemere alleges that the company initially requested US$2 500 to commence work, with a US$1 000 balance to be settled upon completion. She further claims Gray Homes later demanded an additional US$300 for transportation costs to Kariba, where the construction was expected to take place — funds she says were paid in good faith.
However, events reportedly took a troubling turn when she attempted to settle the outstanding balance.
“They changed the agreement and said the money was no longer enough,” Chitemere said. “That is when I asked for a refund.”
What followed, she alleges, was a frustrating cycle of evasions.
Chitemere claims she made repeated efforts to engage the company, including visiting its offices on two occasions. On her most recent visit, she says, the premises appeared abandoned.
“I found no one. They had moved,” she said, appealing to members of the public for assistance in locating the firm.
Gray Homes Construction has acknowledged the dispute in a public statement, though details of the company’s position have done little to quell the growing backlash on social media.
The incident has also revived memories of the company’s previous legal troubles.
In 2024, NewZimbabwe reported that Gray Homes Construction had been dragged to court in a high-profile dispute involving funds linked to a construction project associated with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga. The case, which attracted significant public attention, centred on allegations surrounding the handling of approximately US$1 million earmarked for building works.
Although that matter is legally separate from Chitemere’s claims, the recurrence of complaints involving the same company has intensified scrutiny and public debate.
