adminThubelihle Mabhena Court Reporter
TWO Bulawayo youths appeared in court yesterday after they attempted to defraud a Chinese businessman using forged Zanu-PF documents to solicit for donations for a purported party youth conference.On September 30, Andrew Manjoro, 26, of Famona and Blessed Mashando, 24, of Entumbane approached Davy Huang, 32, the owner of China City Wholesale appealing for donations allegedly for Zanu-PF’s Provincial Youth Conference.
The duo, both Zanu-PF youth members, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Evelyn Mashavuke facing fraud charges.
They pleaded not guilty and were remanded out of custody to November 24.
Prosecuting, Sibusiso Mthombeni said the two youths connived and wrote a letter on a Zanu-PF letterhead purporting to be emanating from the party’s Bulawayo Provincial headquarters.
The letter appealed for donations to host a Provincial Youth Conference from October 2 to 5 this year.
“On the same day the duo approached China City Wholesale situated at Lobengula Street and 10th Avenue, Bulawayo, presented the donation letter to Davy Huang, owner of the shop,” said Mthombeni.
He said Huang instructed the two to come on the following day to collect the money.
Huang then instructed one of his employees to enquire from Zanu-PF offices if the party was seeking any funding for a youth conference and discovered that the letter was fake.
The next day, Manjoro and Mashando approached China City Wholesale and were given $70.
A trap was set up for the two and they were arrested by police at the scene and the $70 was recovered.
Online Reporter