Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
A BULAWAYO man is on the run after police uncovered a vehicle-hire scam in which 16 cars worth a combined US$161 500 were allegedly fraudulently disposed of.
Keith Nyasha Sibanda of Mahatshula North is being hunted over the alleged scam, which reportedly targeted private vehicle owners and car-hire companies between June 2025 and July this year.
Sibanda exploited the trust of vehicle owners by hiring cars for short periods before extending the agreements and allegedly selling the vehicles or using them as collateral for loans.
So far, 13 of the 16 vehicles have been recovered, while police continue searching for the remaining three.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Criminal Investigations Department (CID) national spokesperson Detective Inspector Rachel Muteweri said Sibanda first gained the confidence of vehicle owners before making off with their cars.
“After gaining the confidence of the owners, he would then extend the agreed hire periods before eventually disposing of the vehicles by selling them or using them as collateral to secure loans from different individuals,” said Det Insp Muteweri.
“The complainants lost a total of 16 motor vehicles valued at US$161 500. To date, 13 motor vehicles have been recovered.”
A Bulawayo-based car-hire company, which said it was among those allegedly targeted, claimed Sibanda hired five of its vehicles before disposing of them.
“This man hired five of our cars and sold them,” said a company representative.
The company has since offered a reward for information leading to Sibanda’s arrest.
The case has raised even bigger questions about how vehicles allegedly obtained through deception could subsequently be sold and, in some cases, have their ownership particulars changed.
Some victims said they were stunned to discover that their vehicles had changed hands, with some buyers reportedly managing to register them in their names.
One victim, who asked not to be named, questioned how Sibanda could sell vehicles that were not his.
“How does one manage to sell a vehicle that does not belong to him? Some of the buyers are said to have produced supporting affidavits indicating that the vehicle would be theirs, raising suspicions that this could be a syndicate involving other offices,” said the victim.
Another victim said she was traumatised by the loss of her vehicle.
“Changing vehicle particulars involves some security checks to ensure that everything is above board and to prevent such criminality, which we have become victims of,” she said.
Police said investigations were continuing to establish whether other people were involved in selling the vehicles, accepting them as collateral or facilitating changes to ownership particulars. Det
Insp Muteweri urged anyone with information on Sibanda’s whereabouts to contact the police.
She also warned motorists against buying vehicles or accepting them as collateral without conducting thorough ownership checks.
“Anyone with information regarding Sibanda’s whereabouts should report to any nearest police station,” she said.
The recovery of 13 vehicles could help investigators unravel the transactions and establish how the ownership of the vehicle changed hands.
