Domboshava businessman in gun fraud

Prosper Dembedza

Herald Correspondent

A Domboshava businessman from Zimbiru Village has appeared in court after he was arrested for submitting fake documents to the Controller of Firearms before being issued with a 9mm Glock Pistol.

Tavonga Seremani (34) was facing fraud charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Ruth Moyo.

It is the State’s case that during the period extending from January 1 to 19 June 2023, Seremani made an application for a firearm for cash in transit category to the Controller of Firearms at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters in Harare.

The court heard that during the application and as part of the requirement of producing a bank statement, Seremani misrepresented that he was an NMB Bank account holder and his account number was 0000260184377, which he knew did not exist.

Pursuant to his plan of defrauding the Controller of Firéarms, Seremani submitted an NMB Bank statement bearing the same account number as proof that he was a good candidate to possess or own a gun.

Acting on that misrepresentation, the Controller of Firearms issued him a firearm certificate number 37049B for 9mm Glock Pistol Serial number LXF793, thereby prejudicing the Criminal Investigation Department, Central Firearms Registry of their good administration.

The bank statement, 9MM Glock Pistol and the Firearm certificate Serial number 537049B are held as exhibits.

The case was then reported to the police, and investigations ensued.