Vusumuzi Dube
Faith Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
A 29-year-old Bulawayo man has been arrested for allegedly fabricating and selling a fake driver’s licence.
Rash Chirongoma (29) has appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Skhethile Moyo facing a charge of fraud.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody to 10 October for continuation of trial.
The prosecutor, Mr Tafara Dzimbanete, told the court that on 22 June 2022 at around 12pm in Lobengula West, Mr Mqakatheli Ngwenya who is the complainant was discussing with his friend the importance of securing a driver’s licence and Chirongoma who was close by overheard their conversation.
“Chirongoma later approached Mr Ngwenya insisting that he could help him to facilitate that he obtains the licence he needed. Mr Ngwenya went on and gave Chirongoma US$170 cash which was said to be for the provisional driver’s licence and driving lessons,” said the prosecutor.
On the next day, Chirongoma handed a certificate of competency to Mr Ngwenya.
Around December 2023, the court was told that Mr Ngwenya was in South Africa looking for a job as a driver and that is when he discovered that the licence he received from Chirongoma was not valid.
The court was further told that Mr Ngwenya returned to Zimbabwe and approached Chirongoma about the fake licence.
Chirongoma claimed he was unaware that it was fake since he asked someone to obtain it on his behalf.
The total amount of US$170 which Mr Ngwenya was defrauded of was not recovered.
Online Reporter