Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A HARARE couple that lured job seekers into fake employment schemes before robbing and raping their victims has been sentenced to a combined 51 years in prison.
Jameson Jackson (28) was convicted on three counts of rape and three of robbery, while his wife Blessing Mapfuwa (24) was convicted on three counts of robbery.
Harare Regional Magistrate Ms Feresi Chakanyuka sentenced Jackson to 45 years in prison for the rape charges, at 15 years for each count, to be served consecutively.
For robbery, both Jackson and Mapfuwa were sentenced to 8 years each, with 2 years suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving them to serve an effective 18 years each for the robbery charges.
The crimes, which were orchestrated using WhatsApp and fake recruitment schemes, left the victims traumatised and dispossessed of their belongings.
Prosecutor Mr Tendai Tapi successfully proved the case in court.
The first victim, a 26-year-old woman, was targeted after her neighbour informed her about a potential shopkeeping job in June 2025.She was given a phone number to contact the supposed employer, who turned out to be Jackson. The victim paid a US$20 application fee via EcoCash, falsely believing the job opportunity to be legitimate.
On June 22, 2025, Jackson, through his wife, Mapfuwa, lured the complainant to Mungate Shopping Centre in Domboshava under the pretext of finalising the employment process.
Upon arrival at the meeting point around 8pm, Jackson introduced himself as Mapfuwa’s associate and led the victim to a Honda Fit vehicle, which later broke down.They proceeded on foot, boarded a commuter omnibus heading towards Hatcliffe, and eventually disembarked at Pazimuti Bus Stop.
Jackson then led the victim along a dusty road for an hour, claiming they were near her workplace. When they reached a secluded dam, Jackson revealed his true intentions. He ordered her to put her belongings on the ground, slapped her once and threatened her with an unidentified pistol and knife, claiming accomplices were nearby and would kill her if she resisted. He tied her hands with her jersey, forced her to lie down and sexually assaulted her without protection.
After the assault, Jackson stole her belongings, including a yellow wallet, US$300, ZIG$20, a blue handbag, a medium pink bag with clothing and her cell phone. He ordered her to leave the scene, and a Good Samaritan later assisted her. The victim reported the crime to ZRP Borrowdale.
Another victim, aged 20, fell prey to the couple’s deception. In June 2025, the victim responded to a job advertisement for a housemaid posted in a WhatsApp job-seekers group.
Mapfuwa, posing as the employer, directed her to communicate via WhatsApp. Jackson later arranged to meet her at Simon Muzenda Bus Terminus. When the victim arrived at the terminus, Jackson claimed that the woman she had communicated with was his grandmother, who had left unexpectedly.
Jackson then led the victim onto a Zupco bus, dropping off at Padust Bus Stop in Hatcliffe.
From there, they walked towards Borrowdale, avoiding the compound’s main gate under the pretence that she needed a gate pass to avoid arrest.
After walking through a bushy trail, Jackson stopped abruptly, demanded her cell phon, and threatened her life.
He then assaulted her once without protection before stealing her belongings, valued at US$250 and fleeing the scene. Police later recovered US$122 and some stolen property during their investigation.
Following reports from the victims, detectives tracked the couple to their residence on July 19, 2025.
Searches at the property recovered the kitchen knife used during the crimes, a silver spray gun resembling a firearm, national identity cards belonging to other victims, clothing, bags and various cell phones. Investigators also traced the NetOne line used for luring victims back to the couple.
The court heard that Jackson and Mapfuwa had used the same deceptive tactics to lure and rob or sexually assault women seeking jobs on other occasions.
Magistrate Chakanyuka condemned the couple’s actions, highlighting the trauma inflicted on the victims and the abuse of trust.
