Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, [email protected]
A PROMINENT businesswoman who allegedly defrauded 14 clients of US$696 652 and ZiG1 313 670,16 in a botched vehicle importation scheme has appeared in court facing 14 counts of fraud.
Ms Hezel Silibaziso Mafu, director of Hezy Motors Logistics, pleaded not guilty to the charges when she appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube.
She is being represented by Mr Editor Mavuto of Maphosa and Ndomene Legal Practitioners. Ms
Mafu was granted US$500 bail on condition that she does not interfere with state witnesses and resides at the address she gave the court.
She was ordered to report to the Commercial Crimes Division (CCD) in the Northern Region every
Friday. The matter was postponed to 7 September for commencement of trial.
Prosecuting, Ms Siphiwe Mhlanga told the court that Hezy Motors Logistics, situated at the corner of Fife Street and 11th Avenue in Bulawayo, misrepresented to 14 complainants that it would procure, import and deliver cars from Japan upon payment of a 50 percent deposit, with the balance due upon delivery.
“The first complainant paid US$3 940 to Hezy Motors Logistics (Pvt) Limited, but the accused failed to purchase the vehicle. When attempts to contact her failed, the matter was reported to police,” said Ms Mhlanga.
The court heard that in May 2026, the accused made similar claims to another complainant who wanted a Toyota Vitz valued at US$6 500.
“The complainant paid US$4 634 and ZWG37 791,81 to Hezy Motors Logistics (Pvt) Limited towards the purchase of the car, but the car was never bought and the accused allegedly went into hiding. Using the same modus operandi, the court heard that another victim paid US$8 901 for the purchase of a Nissan but, after paying, the accused went into hiding, while another victim who wanted a Toyota Vitz lost US$4 893,00 after paying it to the accused,” the court heard.
It was heard in court that another victim who wanted a Nissan AD van paid US$2 200 and was given a receipt, but after two weeks she was told to wait and ultimately it dawned on her that she had been duped.
Ms Mhlanga said a woman seeking a Toyota Aqua paid US$7 977 at the accused’s company. Despite several attempts to recover the money, she was unsuccessful. Another complainant approached the accused at her offices to buy a Honda Fit valued at US$6 900 from Japan on the same 50 percent deposit terms.
“The victim paid a first instalment of US$4 000 and a second payment of US$1 608. The accused then switched off her phone and subsequent visits to her office yielded nothing,” the court heard.
In a related case, a complainant who wanted to buy a Toyota Aqua paid US$5 708, after which the accused was not reachable. Another victim lost US$3 961 to the accused’s company after she received the money and went into hiding while another victim lost US$5 708 to the accused’s company.
The court also heard that on a separate occasion, a complaina nt paid US$3 200 for a car valued at that amount, after which the accused made empty promises.
On the same day, another complainant paid US$4 772 towards the purchase of a Honda Fit. After a week, she returned to the accused’s offices and could not find her. She reported the matter to the police.
On another occasion, another complainant who wanted a car valued at US$9 000 paid a first instalment of US$3 000. On the second occasion, the complainant paid US$3 450, after which the accused’s mobile number went straight to voicemail.
In another instance, a woman seeking a Toyota Aqua paid US$3 800 towards the purchase of the car after being told the accused imported vehicles from Japan. She was told to return in two weeks, but on going back she could not find the accused.
She later reported the matter to the Commercial Crimes Division (CCD) at Bulawayo Southern Region, prompting an investigation that led to the accused’s arrest.
Meanwhile, Ms Mafu is also facing 79 counts of fraud in Harare after allegedly duping several people seeking to buy cars. Harare High Court Judge Justice Custom Kachambwa granted the accused US$500 bail on condition that she reports every Friday at the Commercial Crimes Division (CCD) Northern Region in Harare.
The State alleges she defrauded scores of clients of more than US$624 000 and ZiG1 275 878,35 through a bogus vehicle importation scheme. Her trial in Harare is set to begin next month on 2 September.
