Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
WHAT began as seemingly lucrative bulk grocery deals for two local companies allegedly turned into a well-orchestrated scam that recently left the businesses nursing losses of more than US$12 000.
Three Mutare men are now facing fraud charges after allegedly posing as legitimate wholesale customers and tricking sales representatives from Olivine Industries and Metro Peech into releasing large consignments of groceries — only to vanish without paying a cent.
The suspects — brothers, Prince Ruvimbo Dhau (31) and Pardon Dhau (35), together with their associate, Dennis Chikotosa (39) — are accused of using convincing stories, fake business arrangements, and carefully choreographed movements to deceive company representatives into handing over truckloads of goods.
According to acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, the alleged scheme was carried out in two separate incidents, weeks apart, targeting Olivine Industries and Metro Peech Hypermarket.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka confirmed the arrests, noting that investigations had linked the trio to both fraud cases.
“We arrested three suspects in connection with two fraud incidents in which companies lost groceries valued at more than US$12 000. Some of the stolen goods have since been recovered, and the suspects have already appeared in court facing fraud charges,” he said.
The first incident occurred on April 9, when Olivine Industries’ Mutare branch development manager, Mr. Evans Tenha, received what appeared to be a promising bulk purchase enquiry.
“The trio expressed interest in buying groceries in bulk, and nothing seemed unusual about the request. Acting on the enquiry, Mr Tenha instructed Olivine sales representative, Mr Gilbert Mushata, to facilitate delivery of the goods. The consignment was substantial — reportedly including 150 cases of Olivine cooking oil, 150 cases of Pure drop cooking oil, and 50 boxes of Jade bathing soap,” explained Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Mr Mushata later met the suspects at Sakubva Beit Hall, before being directed to what they claimed was their shop at St Joseph’s Business Centre in Chikanga.
Everything appeared to be proceeding normally, and the suspects allegedly pointed out the premises where part of the groceries was to be delivered.
“Mr Mushata followed the instructions, and offloaded a significant portion of the consignment at the veranda of the shop. However, that was where the alleged deception began. After the first batch had been offloaded, the suspects informed Mr Mushata that the remainder of the goods should be delivered to another shop in Dangamvura where payment would be made,” he said.
Believing the arrangement to be genuine, Mr Mushata reportedly complied, and one of the suspects even accompanied him to Dangamvura Shopping Mall. However, upon arrival the man allegedly disappeared.
When Mr Mushata later returned to collect the remaining groceries that had been offloaded earlier, he reportedly made a shocking discovery that the goods had vanished and the suspects were nowhere to be found.
Further enquiries allegedly revealed that the groceries had already been loaded into a white Scania truck and driven away. By the time the deception became clear, Olivine Industries had allegedly lost groceries worth US$8 560.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said some weeks later, the same suspects allegedly struck again at Metro Peech Hypermarket.
“The second incident occurred on May 20. The trio contacted Metro Peech sales representative, Mr Stephen Chindudzo, claiming that they wanted to purchase groceries in bulk for resale at a shop in Odzi.
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Again, the proposed deal appeared genuine. The trio arranged for a meeting with Mr Chindudzo near a service station at Christmas Pass.
“They ordered a variety of grocery products including sugar, maize-meal, cooking oil, biscuits, soft drinks and matches. The suspects instructed the complainant to load the goods into their vehicle, assuring him that payment would be made after the balance of the consignment had been delivered to Odzi.
“One of the suspects allegedly accompanied Mr Chindudzo to Odzi Business Centre. Upon arrival, he reportedly excused himself, claiming he was going to collect money for payment, and he never returned,” he said.
The suspect allegedly disappeared, leaving Mr Chindudzo waiting in vain.
By the time the sales representative realised something was wrong, groceries worth US$4 023 had allegedly been lost.
Investigations connected the dots and a breakthrough came on April 22 when detectives recovered a white Scania truck believed to have been used to transport some of the groceries stolen from Olivine Industries.
The truck was found parked in Mutare CBD.
“Investigations established that the vehicle had been hired from a local transporter who had no knowledge of the alleged criminal activities. Investigation continued until detectives finally made a breakthrough on May 29 when the Dau brothers were arrested,” he said.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said information obtained during interviews with the pair led investigators to Chikotosa.
“During interviews, the two suspects made indications and implicated a third accomplice, Chikotosa, who was subsequently arrested in the city the following day,” he said.
Police later recovered some of the groceries from a shop at Sakubva Bus Terminus.
The recovered products included cooking oil, sugar and maize-meal that had been sold to a local trader.
Investigators also established that part of the groceries allegedly stolen from Olivine Industries had been transported to Harare where they were reportedly sold.
Police further linked a Toyota Axio vehicle to the alleged scam. The vehicle, believed to belong to one of the suspects, was reportedly identified by the complainants as having been used during the commission of the offences.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka urged businesses to verify customers thoroughly before releasing goods.
“We encourage companies and business operators to verify the identities, business premises and payment arrangements of prospective clients before releasing goods. Businesses should conduct due diligence to avoid falling victim to such scams,” he said.
He also appealed to members of the public to report suspicious transactions and criminal activities to the police.
ENDS
