Co-director in US$45 000 fraud storm

She allegedly swindled five aspiring nurses and nurse aides out of a combined US$3 000 by falsely claiming she could secure training placements at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals.

Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent

A co-director of the Integrated Taxi Rides Association (ITRA) has appeared in court facing allegations of defrauding the organisation of US$45 000.

Gibson Mtume, stood before Harare regional magistrate Mr Isheunesu Matova and was remanded out of custody to April 24 on US$100 bail.

The complainant in the case is the Integrated Taxi Rides Association, a registered company in Zimbabwe, represented by its director, Mr Jackson Chipfupa.

According to the State, in 2019, Mtume and Mr Chipfupa jointly registered Taxi Rights Association under company number 8192/2019.

The organisation was established with the aim of regulating public transport operators, promoting a professionally managed transport system that ensures safety, compliance with transport laws, and reliable mass transit services.

However, Mtume allegedly devised a scheme to defraud the association.

Without the complainant’s knowledge or approval, he began aggressively branding and registering commuter omnibus operators under the association’s platform.

Mtume registered 450 commuter omnibuses and issued illegal branding stickers that he personally designed.

These stickers bore his personal contact details. He charged operators US$20 to US$30 in registration fees, and an additional US$5 as weekly subscription fees.

All the funds collected were allegedly converted to his personal use.

Mr Chipfupa, claims that Mtume carried out these activities without any authorisation or formal resolution from the association.

When the fraudulent activities were discovered, a police report was filed, leading to Mtume’s arrest on March 20.