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George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
A MASVINGO magistrate has ordered a dental age assessment for Ronnie Mucheme, a well-known local airtime vendor, who was recently convicted of fraud involving over US$ 1 600, to determine his age before sentencing.
Mucheme, a familiar figure in Masvingo’s central business district, was convicted on two counts of fraud by magistrate Ms Caroline Tafira.
However, the court could not proceed with sentencing after it emerged that Mucheme neither has a birth certificate nor identity documents, and his exact age remains unverified.
He claims to be 20 years old, but the court requires medical proof.
As a result, Ms Tafira ordered a dental age assessment, a medical procedure used to estimate a person’s age based on the development of their teeth.
He will remain in custody while awaiting the results. Mucheme’s troubles began on May 11, when he approached Nickson Kwirirai, an EcoCash agent, claiming that he urgently needed to send US$1 250 to two mobile numbers on behalf of a prominent city businessman.
Known for always being in the businessman’s company and trusted by many, Mucheme convinced Kwirirai, who immediately processed the transaction.
However, after the money was sent, Mucheme vanished. On May 31, while still on the run, Mucheme resurfaced and conned a local cellphone dealer out of three brand-new smartphones worth US$360.
Posing as a middleman, he claimed to have clients ready to purchase the phones. Once the devices were handed over, he disappeared again, prompting a police report and manhunt.
He was finally arrested on July 6 in Mupandawana Town and pleaded guilty to both offences.
In court, Mucheme admitted to using the money and phones to fund a spree of self-indulgence, including stays in expensive hotels and lodges.
