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BULAWAYO businessman and politician Cde Kevin Muzvidziwa was allegedly defrauded of $950 by an ex-convict who sold him a stolen car and disappeared before delivering it.Cde Muzvidziwa contested the 31 July elections on a Zanu-PF ticket in Bulawayo East and lost to MDC-T’s Ms Thabitha Khumalo.
The accused, Wilson Banda (48), of D47 Mzilikazi appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Miss Eveline Mashavakure on Friday facing a charge of fraud.
He was remanded out of custody to tomorrow on $100 bail. As part of his bail conditions, Banda was ordered to reside at his given address and not to interfere with witnesses.
Indications are that Banda has a pending case at the Mutare magistrates’ court where he was allegedly caught with bags of mbanje.
When the magistrate told him to return to court on 30 October, Banda told her that he was also wanted at the Mutare court on the same date and would not be able to make it.
However, the magistrate maintained that he should appear on the given date. According to court documents, Banda allegedly stole the Toyota Hilux from Harare and the case is being investigated and he was allegedly using it to commit crimes.
The court was told that Banda had just been released from prison when he allegedly duped Cde Muzvidziwa. Allegations against Banda are that sometime in March 2010, he approached Cde Muzvidziwa, of 182 Mahatshula South and told him that he was selling a Toyota Hilux.
The court was told that the car was being held at Eland Farm in Bubi District after it was impounded when Banda was caught carrying stolen cables.
It is alleged that Banda produced a court order, which was allegedly ordering the police to release the car to him and Cde Muzvidziwa showed interest in it.
The court was told that the two proceeded to the farm to view the car and agreed on a price of $3 500. Cde Muzvidziwa allegedly paid $950 deposit and was to pay the balance once the car had been delivered.
The court was told that instead of delivering the vehicle, Banda disappeared and had been avoiding the complainant until his arrest last week on Wednesday when he was spotted along George Silundika Street.
Investigations by the police showed that the vehicle belonged to a Harare man and had its registration number AAK 7129 replaced with fake numbers AAV 1829.
The court was told that Banda told the police that he bought the car from an individual identified as Stefane Ndodini but failed to produce any documents to that effect.
Mrs Memory Ndlovu is representing the State.
Online Reporter