Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
A 35-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man who faced allegations of defrauding a local nurse of US$28 900 after falsely promising her employment with Zimbabwe Cricket is now a free man.
Dumisani Mankunzini of Mpopoma suburb appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Patience Madondo facing a fraud charge. The matter was withdrawn before plea, and Mankunzini walked out of court a free man.
Mankunzini has been in court a number of times on fraud allegations but has developed a knack for beating the raps.
Prosecutor Brenda Ndlovu told the court that in October last year, Mankunzini went to Mpilo Central Hospital and misrepresented himself to the complainant, a sister-in-charge at the institution.
“He claimed to be employed by Zimbabwe Cricket as their business development manager and said he had been sent to recruit medical personnel to join the touring Zimbabwe Cricket team in Europe,” said Ndlovu.
The court heard that in January this year, Mankunzini met the complainant again in Bulawayo city centre and convinced her to join Zimbabwe Cricket as a medical officer. She agreed.
“After securing her agreement, the accused enticed the complainant to enrol in a cricket course and to pay US$250 into a Cabs account belonging to Cricket Ekhaya Ekasi,” Ndlovu said.
Mankunzini allegedly told her that the course was mandatory and later claimed she needed to pay for Zimbabwe Cricket’s supposed European tour. In the following months, he allegedly demanded more payments for tours to Europe and other cricket-playing nations such as India.
“The complainant was deceived into paying several amounts for uniforms, visa applications, aviation fees, and flight tickets,” said the prosecutor.
All payments were reportedly made into the Cabs account belonging to Cricket Ekhaya Ekasi, an organisation run by Mankunzini. After receiving the money, Mankunzini allegedly became evasive, prompting the complainant to report the matter to Bulawayo Central Police Station on September 28.
The total loss allegedly suffered by the complainant amounted to US$28 900, and none of the money has been recovered.
