Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A HARARE man has appeared in court on allegations of stealing three Toyota Fortuner SUVs from separate car hire companies after renting them and fraudulently selling them using forged vehicle registration documents.
Blessing Mangwiro (53) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Donald Ndirowei facing three counts of theft of motor vehicles.
He was advised to approach the High Court for bail.
The State alleges that Mangwiro hired the vehicles from three different car rental firms before using fake registration books, forged identity documents and fraudulent sale agreements to sell them to unsuspecting buyers.
According to the prosecution, on June 3, 2026, Mangwiro visited Zenith Car Rentals in Eastlea, Harare, claiming he had just returned from the United Kingdom and required a vehicle to transport visiting guests.
After paying US$850 for a five-day rental, he was handed a white Toyota Fortuner, registration number AGS 9566, with engine number 1GD0238118 and chassis number AHTJA3GS400224787.
It is alleged that on June 22, 2026, Mangwiro used a fake registration book and forged a sale agreement before selling the vehicle to Thulani Simunyu for US$23 500.
The vehicle, valued at US$35 000, was later recovered. In the second count, prosecutors allege that on June 11, 2026, at around 4.40 pm, Mangwiro hired another white Toyota Fortuner, registration AAH 6933, from Drive It Car Hire at 181 Arcturus Road, Harare.
He allegedly produced a fake national identity card and forged a registration book before selling the vehicle to Leon Hungwe of Bulawayo for US$32 000.
The Fortuner, valued at US$40 000, was recovered on June 25, 2026, by detectives from the CID Vehicle Theft Squad near Justice Idi Banda Street along Robert Mugabe Way in Bulawayo.
On the third count, the State alleges that on June 17, 2026, at around 4.40 pm, Mangwiro hired a silver Toyota Fortuner, registration AGQ 1473, from Shayne and Dad Car Hire at Number 1 Rayton Avenue, Greencroft, Harare.
He allegedly used forged identity documents and a fake vehicle registration book to sell the SUV to Raymond Chigwanda for US$25 000.
The vehicle, valued at US$40 000, was recovered. The court heard that Mangwiro was eventually arrested while allegedly attempting to sell yet another hired Toyota Fortuner.
