Online Reporter
Court Correspondent
A Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) analyst accused of extorting a Bulawayo businessman appeared in court on Thursday and was granted bail.
Tonderayi Herbert Makoni (41), an analyst with the FIU at the central bank, appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Feresi Chakanyuka facing charges of fraud.
He was granted bail of US$200 and is expected to return to court on August 29. The complainant, Mr Edmore Maposa, is the director of Roshanweb (Pvt) Ltd, a plumbing contracting company.
It is alleged that Makoni and two accomplices orchestrated a scheme to freeze the accounts of Mr Maposa’s for purported financial malpractices.
The prosecution, led by Mr Rufaro Chonzi, alleged that between May and June 2025, Makoni worked with his accomplices Wisdom Mutami (32) from Bulawayo and Clemence Nyamima, who remains at large, to extort US$2 500 from Mr Maposa.
According to the State, the scheme began in May 2025 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$2 500. The complainant later made payments in instalments.
On May 25, he sent US$520 via Ecocash to a mobile number registered to Nyamima, as instructed by Mutami.
The accused had 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 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).
Mutami was arrested in Bulawayo and is expected to appear in court for remand placement before his case is transferred to Harare.
The third accomplice, Nyamima, is still at large. Mr Maposa suffered a total prejudice of US$2 500.
