Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
Harare regional magistrate Taurai Manuwere on Friday jailed two men who masqueraded as Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Commissioners, extorting money from politicians and top private and public companies’ executives.
The duo Felix Rimaunga and Brian Nyazamba were convicted after a full trial.
Harare regional prosecutor in charge Gossy Mudambu proved that the duo would threaten their targets with arrests and prosecution claiming to be ZACC officials.
Rimaunga and Nyazamba were working with Fortune Torima and Jacob Kuzinya, who are still at large, according to the State.
Nyazamba was responsible for profiling and submitting findings to Rimaunga and Torima, who would then instruct Kuzinya to manufacture fake documents and open bank accounts, according to the State.
Rimaunga and Nyazamba called their victims, informing them that ZACC was investigating them on allegations of corruption and their dockets were nearing completion, and would be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution.
They would then demand cash in United States dollars, Ecocash, Mukuru or Mojo Mula transfers or bank transfers.
The first victim, according to the State, was Mr Cassius Gambinga, who is employed by the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe, and was allegedly being investigated on several cases of corruption.
One of them passed himself as ZACC Commissioner Chimbwanda and demanded US$1 400 and $5 000 for them to close the alleged corruption cases.
Out of suspicion, Mr Gambinga approached the ZACC offices to get full details of his corruption allegations and was told that the people who approached him were not ZACC employees.
City of Harare district officer for Mufakose, Chiratidzo Dzama, was also called on February 4, 2021, by one of the suspects saying he was Commissioner Gwangwadza from ZACC, indicating they had received six anonymous letters listing corruption allegations against her.
They claimed that nine investigation officers were handling the cases, but indicated that their senior officers knew her and were willing to destroy the dockets on condition she paid them US$900 or transferred ZiG90 000 via EcoCash.
Former Harare mayor Engineer Elias Mudzuri was also approached by the suspects, indicating they were investigating his murder case and that his docket was complete and would be referred to NPA for prosecution.
They demanded US$2 000 for them to close the docket at station level and to save him from prosecution.
Eng Mudzuri consulted his lawyer, who advised him to approach ZACC offices and get clarity on the allegations. That is when he was told that there was no Commissioner Hungwe at ZACC.
Former Cabinet Minister and opposition leader Dr Simba Makoni also fell victim after one of them called, saying ZACC was investigating him on allegations of flouting the Exchange Control Regulations, and that his docket was complete, awaiting referral to the NPA for prosecution.
They asked Dr Makoni to deposit $1 million into a CBZ Bank account registered in the name of Talent Murape.
Investigations by police revealed that there was no Talent Murape registered with the Registrar General’s Office.
Africawide Zimbabwe (Private) chief executive officer Mr Douglas Chiimba, was extorted US$1 000 while a Dr Guzha, a medical practitioner, was extorted US$1 000 on accusations of raping a patient at his private surgery in Harare.
The two were sentenced to eight years imprisonment and four years were suspended on condition that they do not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
A further two and a half years were suspended on condition they paid restitution to two of the complainants, leaving them to serve an effective one and a half years.
Online Reporter