Businessman duped of US$23K

Zvikomborero Parafini

A HARARE businessman allegedly lost US$23 000 to fraudsters in a botched deal involving tobacco inputs.

The suspect, Picket Mazhindu, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda.

Allegations are that on November 2 last year, Mazhindu and his three accomplices − Samuel Mackenzie, Golden Mutanda and Isabella Shuvai Chimedza − who are on remand, acted with common purpose and connived to steal from the complainant.

The complainant was looking for a truck to ferry a consignment of tobacco inputs from Trowbar Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, trading as Maguire’s Warehouse, to Mashonaland Tobacco Company (MTC) branch in Mt Darwin.

The gang, with intent to steal, approached the complainant as if they were genuine transporters.

In the process, they offered the complainant a truck, which was being driven by Samuel Mackenzie, who was driving a DAF XF truck (registration number AFJ 5347) , trailer (registration number ACL 1549).

They drove to 2274 Tilbury Road, Willowvale, Harare, Trowbar Enterprises, trading as Maguire’s warehouse, where it was loaded with the complainant’s tobacco inputs.

Mackenzie drove off to Mount Darwin, as per the loading instructions, and picked Golden Mutanda in Marlborough.

Upon arrival in Bindura, they parked the truck and slept.

On November 3, in the morning, Mazhindu drove his two other accomplices to Bindura, where they met Mackenzie and Mutanda.

They allegedly stole the tobacco input consignment and loaded it in 2×15-tonne truck lorries and the tobacco inputs were taken back to Harare for resale.

On November 3 last year, the complainant was informed by Bothwell Chakwanda that the consignment was not received, as per their arrangement, and efforts were made to get clarification from the driver Mackenzie.

Mackenzie was arrested on November 5, 2021 and he indicated that Mazhindu offloaded the tobacco input consignment in Bindura and returned to Harare.

Investigations were instituted and led to the arrest of Kingstone Mukeredzi, and the recovery of 25x 5 litre N-Decanol herbicides, and 5X20X300 black plastic sheeting material, which was part of the stolen tobacco inputs consignment.

Mukeredzi led detectives to Esau Chitseko and Willard Hukura in Mbare, Harare, where he had bought the recovered tobacco inputs.

He indicated that they bought the property from the accused and his two accomplices, who are in remand, and the detectives recovered 3 XT − Twine rolls from Esau Chitseko.