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Zvikomborero Parafini
A HARARE businesswoman has been duped US$350 000 in a botched deal after her business partner went behind her back and formed a rival business, similar to the one that they had formed to together.
The suspect, Comfort Tanaka Gutu, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa.
He was released on US$500 bail.
The complainant is Sibusisiwe Melody Mutendi.
The court heard that Guti and Mutendi entered into an agreement in 2021 to set up a pharmacy in Gokwe.
A partnership agreement was drawn up between the two.
The agreement was that Mutendi was going to fund the whole project but she would get 49 percent shareholding while Gutu would get 51 percent.
Mutendi injected US$19 000 through a transfer into Gutu’s account.
It is alleged that the business started well but, after three years, it failed.
Gutu also misrepresented to Mutendi that some of the funds realised from the business had been used to pay taxes at ZIMRA when, in actual fact, no taxes were ever paid.
Mutendi suffered an actual prejudice of US$350 000 and nothing was recovered.
Mutendi carried out investigations and found out that Gutu had opened two other competing pharmacies, namely Nu Centre and Afrihelp, in the same area, without her approval and knowledge.
It is the State’s case that the two other pharmacies drew stock from Medlife Pharmacy and crippled it.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter