Music promoter jailed for fraud

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A MUSIC promoter has been jailed for six months for defrauding a Hwange businessman after being paid to bring two Harare musicians for a show in the coal mining town, without agreeing with them to perform there.

Thirty-one year-old Charles Mumanyi, of Kambuzuma in Harare, was convicted of fraud on his own plea of guilty when he appeared before Hwange magistrate Portia Mhlanga.

Mumanyi, will however serve an effective four months in jail after the magistrate suspended two months on condition that he restitutes the $500 he defrauded Edson Ticharwa, the owner of Eldorado Rock Park that is located at Baobab Hotel in Hwange.

The music promoter must pay Ticharwa his money by November 30, through Hwange’s Clerk of Court.

Asked why he committed the crime, Mumanyi admitted intentionally duping Ticharwa.

“I wanted to raise money for my mother who is ill,” he told the court.

Prosecuting, Onias Nyathi said Mumanyi was paid the money via Ecocash as an advance payment for a music show.

The promoter had alleged that he had organised for musicians Allan Chimbetu and Guspy Warrior to perform at Eldorado Park on Friday last week.

“On September 21, 2015 the two met in Kwekwe where the accused promised to facilitate for musicians Allan Chimbetu and Guspy Warrior to have music shows in Hwange at Eldorado Rock Park on October 2,” said the prosecutor.

“The accused informed the complainant of the requirements for one to bring the musicians and as such some of the requirements were to make advertising posters and advance payment for the musicians.”

The court heard that Mumanyi demanded $300 to print posters and $200 as advance payment for Guspy Warrior.

Ticharwa deposited $500 into Mumanyi’s Ecocash account on September 24.

Chimbetu and Guspy Warrior did not turn up for the October 2 show and instead Mumanyi brought a dance group called Kasamoto, the court was told.

This prompted the businessman to phone Guspy Warrior to confirm if he was coming for the show and that is when he learnt that the two musicians were not even aware that a show had been arranged for them in Hwange.

A report was made to the police leading to Mumanyi’s arrest.