Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo-Court Correspondent
A 46-year-old farmer has appeared in court facing fraud charges after allegedly misrepresenting the status of his tobacco crop to secure funding worth over US$51 000.
Oosthuizen Jennie Lourence appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Michael Mafukidze last week, where he was granted bail.
He is expected to return to court on May 4.
According to the State, the complainant is Horizon Leaf Tobacco, represented by its finance manager, Hildah Tsungai Serere.
Prosecutors allege that in November 2025, Lourence approached the company seeking a contract farming agreement.
Following an assessment visit to his farm in Trelawney, Banket, company representatives observed what appeared to be a promising tobacco crop at various stages of growth.
Satisfied with the assessment, the parties entered into a contract valued at US$51 020.
Instead of receiving cash, Lourence was supplied with farming inputs.
However, the court heard that Lourence failed to disclose that the same crop had already been committed to another financier.
When the tobacco selling season opened in mid-February 2026, the company expected delivery of the crop in line with the agreement.
Lourence allegedly failed to deliver and instead, through his lawyers, claimed that both his farm and crops had been forcibly taken over by a creditor, Webster Chinodakufa, over an outstanding debt.
As a result, Horizon Leaf Tobacco reportedly suffered a loss of US$51 020.
