Online ReporterZvikomborero Parafini
HARARE regional magistrate Taurai Manuwere yesterday fumed over the delays in the start of a trial involving two men who were masquerading as ZACC Commissioners and allegedly extorting money from politicians and top executives.
Felix Rimaunga and Brian Nyazamba were in court for the trial but their lawyer said they were not prepared for trial because the State had not furnished them with State papers in time.
The lawyer filed for an application for postponement.
This infuriated magistrate Manuwere who referred back to his notes during the previous remand date when the lawyer confirmed that he had received all the relevant material from the State .
Manuwere dismissed the application and told the defence that trial was going to proceed today without fail.
The State claims the two would threaten their targets with arrests and prosecution.
Rimaunga and Nyazamba were said to have been working with Fortune Torima and Jacob Kuzinya, who are still at large, according to the State.
Nyazamba was responsible for profiling and submitting findings to Rimaunga and Torima, who would then instruct Kuzinya to manufacture fake documents and open bank accounts, according to the State.
Rimaunga and Nyazamba called their victims informing them that ZACC was investigating them on allegations of corruption and their dockets were nearing completion.
They would then allegedly demand cash in United States dollars, Ecocash, Mukuru or Mojo Mula transfers or bank transfers.
The first casualty, according to the State, was Cassius Gambinga who is employed by the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe.
One of them allegedly masqueraded as ZACC Commissioner Chimbwanda and demanded US$1 400 in order for them to close the alleged corruption cases.
Gambinga approached ZACC offices to get full details of his corruption allegations and was told that they were not ZACC employees.
City of Harare district officer for Mufakose, Chiratidzo Dzama, was also called on February 4, 2021, by one of the suspects saying he was Commissioner Gwangwadza from ZACC, indicating they had received six anonymous letters of corruption allegations levelled against her.
They allegedly claimed that nine investigation officers were handling the cases but indicated that their senior officers knew her and were willing to destroy the dockets on condition she paid them US$900 or transferred $90 000 via EcoCash.
Former Harare Mayor Elias Mudzuri was also approached by the suspects, saying they were investigating his murder case and that his docket was complete and would be referred to NPA for prosecution.
They allegedly demanded US$2 000 for them to close the docket at station level and to save him from prosecution.
Eng Mudzuri consulted his lawyer, who advised him to approach ZACC offices and get clarity on the allegations. That is when he was told that there was no Commissioner Hungwe at ZACC.
Dr Simba Makoni also fell victim after one of them called saying ZACC was investigating him on allegations of flouting the Exchange Control Regulations and that his docket was complete, awaiting referral to the NPA for prosecution.
They demanded $1 million from him to close the docket at station level.
The other executives who were targeted were the CEO of Africawide Zimbabwe Chiimba, Dr Guzha, a medical practitioner and Raphael Mushanawani, the Netone CEO.
