RBZ official acquitted of fraud

Reserve Bank Of Zimbabwe

A RESERVE Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) analyst, who was facing fraud charges for allegedly conspiring with an illegal foreign currency dealer to defraud a local businessman of more than US$2,500 has been acquitted following trial.

Tonderayi Herbert Makoni (41), an analyst with the FIU at the central bank, and illegal forex dealer Wisdom Mutami (32), appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Mr Richard Ramaboea, facing fraud charges.

Makoni was represented by his lawyer, Ms Constance Mathaba. In acquitting Makoni, the magistrate said there was no evidence linking him with the alleged offence.

“The police illegally obtained messages from Makoni’s phone, and as such, they cannot be accepted. The court established that he was not the one who unfreezes accounts,” said the magistrate.

Mr Ramaboea said the State failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“It appears Mutami used Makoni’s name to defraud unsuspecting people of their hard-earned cash. The State failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt; therefore, he is not found guilty and is acquitted,” ruled the magistrate.

Mr Ramaboea stated that Mutami was found guilty and that there was evidence showing he received US$520. However, the court could not establish who took the remaining US$2,000.

Mutami was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, of which two months were suspended on condition of good behaviour, while a further three months were suspended on condition that he pays restitution of US$520 to Mr Maphosa. The remaining three months were suspended on condition that he perform 105 hours of community service at the Bulawayo High Court.

Prosecuting, Mr Milton Moyo submitted that Makoni, Mutami, and their alleged accomplice, Clemence Nyamina, who is on the run, orchestrated a scheme to freeze the accounts of Mr Maphosa’s plumbing contracting company for purported financial malpractices.

“Between May and June 2025, Makoni worked with his accomplices, Mutami from Bulawayo and Clemence Nyamima, who remains at large, to defraud Mr Maposa of US$2,520,” said Mr Moyo.

The scheme allegedly began in May last year when Makoni, acting in common purpose with his accomplices, targeted the complainant, claiming they could lift the freezing of his business accounts in exchange for money.

On May 16, Mutami approached Mr Maposa, claiming to be a relative of Makoni, and demanded US$3,000 to resolve the issue.

“After negotiations, the amount was reduced to US$2,520. The complainant later made payments in instalments. On May 25, he sent US$520 via Ecocash to a mobile number registered in Nyamima’s name, as instructed by Mutami,” he said.

The accused allegedly insisted on using a proxy account to avoid receiving the payments directly.

In mid-June, Mr Maposa handed over US$2,000 to Mutami, who promised to forward the money to Makoni.

However, after receiving the money, Makoni and his accomplices allegedly became evasive, and the accounts remained frozen.

Nothing has been recovered to date, and Mr Maposa reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC). After that, Makoni and Mutami were arrested.

Mr Maposa suffered a total prejudice of US$2,520.