Online Reporter
Post Reporter
THE long arm of the law finally caught up with a cunning Rusape conmen, Given Tapera, alias Chifausi, who allegedly duped the widow of the late John Cowie Primary School headmaster, Mr Garikayi Nyawo US$4 300 after lying to her that he was an army officer who had allocated his late husband farming land.
Tapera (44) of Mabvazuwa suburb who is represented by Mr Taurai Khupe of Khupe and Majamanda Law Chambers, appeared before Rusape magistrate, Mrs Barbra Mateko, facing fraud allegations.
Mrs Mateko threw out his bail application, saying he was not a proper candidate to be tried from home.
Prosecutor, Ms Faith Mutukwa said Tapera allegedly approached Ms Josephine Nyawo, and lied to her that the he was an army intelligent operative attached to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, and his late husband had applied for a piece land which was now available, and wanted some money for documentation and protection fees.
“On November 4, 2024, Tapera misrepresented to Mrs Monica Chanyau, the deputy head at John Cowie Primary where the complainant’s husband worked as a head that he was Tongai Nyika Manyanga a ZNA intelligent officer based in Harare, and was attached to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
“He went on to say the complainant’s late husband, Garikayi Shadreck Nyawo had applied for land to farm, and that his application had been approved. Tapera went on to say that the late Nyawo had been allocated a piece in Odzi. He requested the complainant’s phone number. He called Ms Nyawo, and made the same misrepresentation.
“From the period between November 4, 2024 and December 16, 2024, the accused caused the complainant to send him various amounts of money he claimed to be for documentation, protection fee as he also misrepresented to Ms Nyawo that they were some people out to kill her, and also money to pay guards guarding property on the alleged acquired piece of land in Odzi,” Ms Mutukwa.
Taperaa allegedly instructed Ms Nyawo to pay the money in two EcoCash accounts registered in other people’s names.
He had allegedly lied to the account holders that his account was blocked.
Ms Nyawo deposited the money, but later on found that she had been duped after Tapera refused to meet her, show the piece of land, and later blocked her.
“The accused approached Makomborero Sirika and Bright Cantias Kafikira, and requested to use their EcoCash accounts respectively after having misrepresented to them that his own account was blocked. The complainant deposited various amounts of money into the said EcoCash accounts at various times. The accused would then collect the cash from the two.
“The complainant discovered the offence after the accused person continued to siphon money from her, but refusing to meet her or show the piece of land. The accused later switched off his cellphone and disappeared.
“On November 3, 2025, the accused was arrested at his place of residence, and on November 4, an identification parade was contacted in which the accused was identified by the two witnesses whose accounts were used by him. Total value stolen is US$4 296, and nothing has been recovered,” said Ms Mutukwa.
Mrs Mateko adjourned the matter to November 27 for routine remand.
