Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A CHITUNGWIZA man, who masqueraded as a pastor with spiritual powers to heal cancer and swindled a UK-based woman of US$25,900, has been jailed for 20 months.
Kelvin Nyamhika (33) was convicted of fraud after pleading guilty when he appeared before Harare magistrate Jacqueline Gara.
He was initially sentenced to 46 months in prison.
However, 12 months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, while a further 14 months were suspended on condition that he restitutes US$25,900 to the complainant by December 1, this year.
This left Nyamhika with an effective 20-month jail term.
The complainant, Mildred Zvimbvatu, is based in the UK.
Prosecutor Kanchelskis Ropi told the court that sometime in 2023, Nyamhika, who was a friend of the complainant’s son, Tinashe Zvimbvatu (32), contacted Zvimbvatu on WhatsApp using his Econet line.
The court heard that Nyamhika developed a friendship with Zvimbvatu, who confided in him about her personal and family problems.
After Zvimbvatu relocated to the UK, the two remained in contact.
Nyamhika then hatched a plan to defraud her by claiming that he could link her with a pastor, who could spiritually heal her daughter, who was battling cancer.
The court heard that Nyamhika subsequently acquired another Econet line registered in the name of Exter Kambalame and assumed the identity of Pastor Mugoriwe from a church called City of Truth.
Nyamhika told Zvimbvatu that he had seen, through the “realm of the Holy Spirit”, misfortunes affecting her family and instructed her to send money towards prayers.
Zvimbvatu sent various amounts to Nyamhika’s EcoCash account through WorldRemit on different occasions.
The money accumulated to US$15,900, but Nyamhika allegedly continued demanding more money for the purported prayers.
The court further heard that Nyamhika later claimed he was connected to the United Kingdom Embassy and could assist Ms Zvimbvatu with visa documentation for her daughter and grandchild.
He demanded US$10,000 for the service.
Mvimbvatu sent US$6,250 to Nyamhika’s EcoCash account through WorldRemit, while her aunt, Babra Mugandani, who is based in the United States, sent the remaining US$3,750.
After receiving the money, Nyamhika became evasive and blocked Zvimbvatu on social media platforms.
She subsequently realised that she had been defrauded and reported the matter to the police.
Investigations were conducted, resulting in police sending a search and seizure warrant to Econet Wireless.
The mobile network operator provided police with Nyamhika’s particulars and call history, leading to his identification.
The total amount prejudiced was US$25,900, and nothing was recovered.
