adminAuxilia Katongomara Court Reporter
PROMINENT Bulawayo businessman Dumisani Mutorera lost cash amounting to R22,000 in a botched potato deal involving his friend, a court heard yesterday.
Mutorera, who runs Club Forty40 nightclub, was allegedly swindled of the money by Sydney Dube of Mahatshula suburb.
Dube, 40, yesterday appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Sibongile Msipa charged with fraud and pleaded guilty. He was granted $100 bail and ordered to reside at his home and not interfere with State witnesses.
The trial continues on July 18.
Prosecuting, Caroline Matanga said on May 24 this year, at around 5PM, one of Mutorera’s employees introduced Dube’s wife to Mutorera at his workplace.
“The two discussed business and Dube’s wife explained how she was in the business of importing potatoes from South Africa. Mutorera was attracted by the profits and asked for Dube’s number as his wife had said he was a cross-border trader who transported the potatoes to Zimbabwe,” said Matanga.
The prosecutor told the court that Mutorera later went to South Africa to meet Dube who showed him the market and gave him his account number to deposit the money as was the procedure.
“Mutorera deposited R14,280 and later gave Dube R8,000 more towards the payment of the potatoes as well as transportation to Zimbabwe.
“He came back to Zimbabwe after Dube had assured him that he was going to deliver the goods in two days’ time,” said Matanga.
The court heard that two days lapsed with the potatoes not delivered and Dube kept promising that the potatoes would come until Mutorera began demanding his cash.
Matanga told the court that Dube promised to restitute Mutorera his money but failed to fulfil the promise until the businessman reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest.
The total amount lost was R22,280 and only R800 was recovered.
Online Reporter