
Zvikomborero Parafini
A MUSICIAN, who was masquerading as an agent for the Zimbabwe Youth Council and sourcing for donations, has appeared in court charged with fraud.
Gilbert Kanokanga of Seke, Chitungwiza, is a musician and fronts the GKK Express Band.
He appeared before Harare magistrate Apollonia Marutya yesterday.
The first complainant is Nancy Chinokoro.
The court heard that in April last year Kanokanga, together with Vernon Eugen Mitchell who has already been arrested, and Tonderai Motsi who is still at large, connived to defraud Chinokoro.
The trio advised Chinokoro that there was an organisation which was donating food and funding of projects from Turkey and Japan registered with the Zimbabwe Youth Council.
Chinokoro paid a total of US$30 000 for project visits and joining fees.
This money was collected from her from time to time.
Other payments were done at Motsi’s office.
He was said to be the project manager.
Chinokoro later discovered that it was a scam after she patiently waited for the donations which did not come.
She enquired from Kanokanga and was advised that the coordinator Mitchell was sick.
Later, the trio became evasive.
She went to the Zimbabwe Youth Council where she was advised that there was no such programme from Turkey and Japan registered with the Council.
Nothing was recovered.
The second complainant is Frank Masendu who is a farmer.
Allegations are that in January, the trio advised Masendu that there were donations which were coming from European countries through World Youth and Woman Association, a company registered by them.
They advised Masendu that the donations were to benefit the youths and women who would have joined the association.
The trio said they were representatives of the Global World Youth and Women Association in Zimbabwe while Vernon Eugen Mitchell was the association’s representative from the Republic of Turkey.
Masendu paid the trio US$17 800.
He later found out that it was a scam
The third complainant is Ackim Muzilikazi, who was also allegedly duped using the same modus operandi.
He made an investment of US$20 000 and nothing was recovered.