Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
The trial of Harare man Tichaona Mavhangira, who allegedly defrauded Leanest Properties director Mr Martin Mugarisi of US$5 400 in a botched chicken and sugar permits deal, kicked off with him pleading not guilty.
While testifying in court before Harare Magistrate Mrs Jacqueline Gara, Mugarisi said he was facilitating the permits deal on behalf of his friend Mr Robin Bouckaert who was out of the country during that time.
He said he made the payments using his money and Mr Bouckaert was going to reimburse it. In denying the charges, Mavhangira, through his lawyer, put it to Mr Mugarisi that he was not the rightful complainant in this case as he was just facilitating the deal for Mr Bouckaert.
As part of his defence, Mavhangira told the court that he never misrepresented to Mr Mugarisi that he had the capacity to facilitate the issuance of the sugar and chickens import permits.
He said, contrary to the complainant’s allegations that he was the one who wanted the permits, the complainant was just an agent like him.
“The chicken and sugar permits were needed by a company called Associated Meat Packers (AMP) a subsidiary of Simbisa Brands and Grainco (Pvt) Ltd, respectively, and they were being represented by Mr Tadiwa Paririnyatwa and Mr Robin Bouckaert,” said Mavhangira in his defence.
Mr Mugarisi added that the above two companies needed these facilitators because Simbisa Brands had been banned from importing chickens, and Grainco (Pvt) Ltd did not have the requirements to import.
It is the State’s case that sometime in May 2025 Mr Mugarisi intended to acquire the import permits for sugar and chickens.
He approached Stephen Machingura to enquire if he knew anyone who could assist in facilitating the issuance of the permits.
Mavhangira then misrepresented to Mr Mugarisi that he could facilitate the issuance of the import permits.
This was done through the information that was supplied via Stephen Machingura. Mr Mugarisi
then paid a sum of US$15 400 during the period extending from June 7 to June 14, 2025, which was paid through Mr Stephen Machingura as the cost of both sugar and chicken import permits.
The court heard that Mavhangira received the money through Mr Stephen Machingura and he promised that the import permits would be ready within 21 days after the date of the last payment.
It is alleged that Mavhangira did not facilitate the issuance of the import permits within the agreed period.
Mr Mugarisi made some follow-ups with Mavhangira and he started giving unnecessary excuses.
He then reported to the police, leading to Mavhangira’s arrest.
