Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara, [email protected]
A 35-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man has appeared in court for allegedly defrauding a local nurse of US$28 900 after falsely promising her employment with Zimbabwe Cricket.
Dumisani Mankunzini of Mpopoma suburb, who works as the national development manager for Cricket Ekhaya Ekasi, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Takudzwa Gwazemba, facing a fraud charge. He was remanded in custody to today.
Prosecuting, Ms Josephine Gurazhira told the court that sometime in October last year, Mankunzini went to Mpilo Central Hospital, where he allegedly misrepresented himself to the complainant, a sister-in-charge at the institution.
“Accused purported to be employed by Zimbabwe Cricket as their business development manager and claimed he had been sent to recruit medical personnel to be attached to the touring Zimbabwe Cricket team in Europe,” said Ms Gurazhira.
The court heard that in January this year, Mankunzini met the complainant again in Bulawayo city centre and convinced her to join Zimbabwe Cricket as a medical officer, and she agreed.
“Having agreed to the employment, the accused then enticed the complainant to enrol for a cricket course and to pay US$250 into a Cabs account belonging to Cricket Ekhaya Ekasi,” Ms Gurazhira said.
Mankunzini allegedly told the complainant that the course was a mandatory requirement and later claimed she needed to pay for Zimbabwe Cricket’s supposed European tour.
The court heard that in the following months, the accused further misrepresented that she had to pay for tours to Europe and other cricket-playing nations like India.
“The complainant was deceived into paying several amounts purportedly for uniforms, visa applications, aviation fees and flight tickets,” said the prosecutor.
The court heard that all payments were made into a Cabs account belonging to Cricket Ekhaya Ekasi, an organisation run by the accused.
After receiving the money, Mankunzini allegedly became evasive, prompting the complainant to file a police report at Bulawayo Central Police Station on September 28.
As a result of his alleged actions, the complainant suffered a total prejudice of US$28 900. Nothing was recovered.
