Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
AN employee at Condere Shopping Centre has appeared in court on allegations of conspiring with a bogus Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) official to extort US$3 000 from his employer after allegedly tipping off the impostor that the company was storing smuggled goods in its warehouse.
Persuade Mandiki (34) appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Jessie Kufa facing an extortion charge and was remanded in custody to July 30 for a bail hearing.
The State alleges that on July 10, 2026, Mandiki, who works at premises along Kirkman Road in Harare, supplied information to Blessing Mutema, who allegedly posed as a ZIMRA officer.
It is alleged that Mandiki knowingly provided the information to enable Mutema to falsely accuse the complainant of keeping smuggled goods in the warehouse and use the allegations to extort money.
The court heard that the two communicated through messages and allegedly planned to share the proceeds. Acting on the information, Mutema allegedly extorted US$3 000 from the complainant before sharing the money with Mandiki.
