Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Court Correspondent
THE trial of two suspected fraudsters who allegedly swindled an unsuspecting victim of US$97 110 in a botched money exchange deal kicked off on Monday, with the duo denying the allegations.
Rumbidzai Bushu and Aleck Mufambi are being represented by Messrs Ashiel Mugiya and Zebediah Bofu.
The complainant is Marjorie Kennan and is employed by Kennan Properties.
The State alleges that on June 12 of last year, Kennan contacted Bushu to ask whether she had some local currency as she intended to pay her council bills totalling ZiG 491 020.70, equivalent to approximately US$14 657.
Kenna also wanted to pay an Endowment valued at US$82 452, equivalent to approximately ZiG2 762 144.
The court heard that Bushu misrepresented to the complainant that she had the ZiG amount required and reached an agreement with Kennan.
After being given banking details for the respective transactions, Bushu and Mufambi went on to produce fake proof of payment.
Acting on the misrepresentation, the complainant handed over US$97 110 in cash to Bushu and was receipted by Simukai Financial Services.
On June 17, 2025, the complainant realised that she had been duped after being informed that the money had not reflected in the City of Harare accounts.
On June 26, 2025, the complainant checked with the respective banks, and was informed that the proof of payment was fake.
She then filed a police report.
After realising that Kennan had filed a report, Bushu made a payment of ZiG 662 144 to the City of Harare. Another payment of ZIG 491 020. 00 was made to the City of Harare to clear the rates.
However, during investigations, Bushu implicated Mufambi as an accomplice in manufacturing the fake proof of payment. She said Mufambi received a portion of the fraudulently acquired money.
It was also established that Simukai Financial Services, which Bushu misrepresented to the complainant as a registered and functional Bureau de Change, ceased to be registered with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in December 2023.
Kennan lost US$ 97 110 and only US$37 110 was recovered.
