Man dupes Masvingo businessmen

Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
A CHIVI man duped 19 business people at Chivi Growth Point in Masvingo of more than $10 000 after forging Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe documents and claiming that he had been sub-contracted by Nyaradzo Funeral Policy. Obediah Mutore of Chivi Growth Point allegedly misrepresented himself as an agent of Nyaradzo claiming that he had accessed a $750 000 loan facility that would be accessible to the businesspeople after paying him an undisclosed amount of money.

It is understood that the 19 businesspeople allegedly paid Mutore $10 000 after he misrepresented that he had also been sub-contracted by a local funeral company Nyamadzawo Funeral Services to supply coffins before disappearing with the money.

Mutore was last week arraigned before Chivi resident magistrate Mr Bishard Chineka sitting in Mashava facing 19 counts of fraud. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody to Friday. Mutore is being represented by Mr Hebert Tafa of Tafa and Associates Legal Practitioners.

For the State, Mr Nixon Chamisa told the court that some time this year during a period unknown to the prosecutor, Mutore misled 19 businesspeople from Chivi. Mr Chamisa alleged that Mutore lied that he had been awarded a tender to supply coffins by Nyamadzawo Funeral Services. Mutore is said to have further claimed that Nyaradzo had agreed to give him an advance payment of $750 000.

“So he promised his victims who happened to be businesspersons that he was going to give them some loans from that money,” said Mr Chamisa. The court heard that Mutore signed some memorandum of understanding with them and requested for payment of varying figures as administration fees.

“When they felt it was taking too long to get the money they exerted enormous pressure on him and he faked some RBZ documents,” said Mr Chamisa.

The matter was then reported to police leading to Mutore’s arrest. Mr Chamisa said the total prejudice was $10 000.