Bogus soldier up for US$3 800 fraud

Prosper Dembedza Court Correspondent

A Harare man who masqueraded as a member of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) attached to the Command Agriculture Programme while defrauding people of their money under the pretext of organising farms for them, appeared in court on Saturday.

Edmore Muvengwa (33) was facing fraud charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo.

He was remanded in custody to today for bail application.

It is alleged that during period between May 1, 2018 and April 30, 2019, Muvengwa misrepresented to two complainants that he was a member of the ZNA and attached to the Command Agriculture Programme.

Muvengwa allegedly told the victims that he could secure farms for them under land reform.

The court heard that the offence came to light after the complainants were tipped off by Barbra Pakamisa, who is Muvengwa’s girlfriend.

On May 10, detectives from CID Commercial Crimes Division proceeded to Pakamisa’s residence in Mbare in the company of the two complainants where they interviewed her.

Pakamisa revealed that she had been cohabiting with Muvengwa from 2017 until sometime in 2019 when he went to Bindura.

The court heard that the detectives searched the house and recovered a fake provincial lands officer date stamp and one ink pad, 60 completed applications for commercial farm settlement scheme forms, eight A2 land offer letters, one national identification document belonging to Learnmore Mwala, six completed fake Ministry of Lands receipts, eight completed affidavit forms and 50 photocopies of identification particulars in various names.

It is alleged that as a result of Muvengwa’s misrepresentation, the complainants paid a total of US$3 840 as land levies.

It is the State case that Muvengwa took the victims to Salewood Farm and plot number 14 Zvakwana Farm in Bindura.

The court heard that the two farms are owned by other people.

Meanwhile, a suspected Chinese national appeared in the same court facing allegations of failing to pay US$19 050 for 22 800 litres of fuel he ordered.

Ye Youjing (43) was facing theft of trust property charges when he appeared before Mr Mapfumo.

He was also remanded in custody to today for bail application.