Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent
A BIZARRE case of betrayal and deceit has emerged in Harare, where a man allegedly conned his girlfriend out of US$500 by impersonating her pastor and claiming the money would be “blessed” and multiply.
John Mushayavudzi (32), who is accused of orchestrating the elaborate scheme, appeared at the Mbare Magistrates Court this week facing fraud charges.
Mushayavudzi, who pleaded not guilty, was remanded in custody pending the start of his trial.
The complainant, identified as 26-year-old Enteetes Ashley Musamirapamwe, is not only the alleged victim but also the accused’s girlfriend.
The court heard that the story began innocently enough in June 2025, when Mushayavudzi asked his girlfriend for a US$200 loan, claiming he needed the money to retrieve his car from the border.
She trusted him and gave him the cash.
However, when she started asking for her money back a week later, Mushayavudzi reportedly avoided her.
Instead of repaying the loan, he allegedly devised a plan to keep the money and extract even more.
Using a different phone number, Mushayavudzi pretended to be a pastor from their church and began sending messages to Musamirapamwe.
Posing as the “pastor,” he advised her not to demand the money back, claiming that it was “seed money” that would multiply if she trusted in God.
In September 2025, the fake pastor upped the ante, messaging Musamirapamwe again and instructing her to sow more “seeds of faith.”
The message stated that both she and Mushayavudzi should contribute US$100 each per month, promising that they would receive blessings and financial multiplication through prayer.
Convinced by the spiritual pretence, Musamirapamwe complied and handed over the requested amount to Mushayavudzi.
Over the next few months, the requests continued, with the complainant giving more money, believing it was part of a divine plan endorsed by her pastor.
By November 2026, Musamirapamwe had handed over a total of US$500.
However, her suspicions were raised when she noticed inconsistencies in the messages.
After further digging, she discovered the shocking truth that the so-called pastor was none other than her boyfriend, Mushayavudzi.
Devastated by the betrayal, Musamirapamwe reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Glen View.
Mushayavudzi was arrested, and the total value of the prejudice was stated as US$500.
Unfortunately, none of the money has been recovered.
Peter Tanyanyiwa