Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A Harare woman has appeared in court facing fraud and defeating the course of justice charges after allegedly duping a miner of US$15 000 in a bogus mining deal, in carhoots with her husband.
Kate Maumbwa appeared before magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo, with the State led by prosecutor Mr Takudzwa Jambawu.
The complainant is Mr Everisto Kamone, a miner. The court heard that in July 2025, Mr Kamone was seeking assistance to facilitate the reinstatement of his mining application for a claim in Nyanga through the Ministry of Mines offices in Mutare, after it had been revoked.
Mr Kamone was referred by a friend to Simon Musika, the accused’s husband, who allegedly claimed he was employed by the Ministry of Mines and could assist in processing the application.
Musika invited Mr Kamone to his house in Aspindale, Harare, for a meeting with his wife Maumbwa.
During the meeting, Musika allegedly reiterated that he had the capacity to facilitate the mining application, a claim Maumbwa is said to have confirmed despite allegedly knowing that her husband was not employed by the Ministry of Mines but by the Zimbabwe National Army.
Musika allegedly demanded US$20 000 to secure the mining claim. Acting on the representations made, Mr Kamone agreed to the arrangement.
On July 27, 2025, Mr Kamone reportedly paid a deposit of US$15 000 in cash at the couple’s residence, handing the money to Maumbwa in Musika’s presence.
The pair allegedly assured him that the process would be completed within three days.
However, Mr Kamone did not receive any documentation and later discovered that Musika was not employed by the Ministry of Mines as claimed.
He subsequently reported the matter to the police.
Investigations allegedly revealed that Maumbwa and Musika acted in connivance to misrepresent Musika’s employment status in order to defraud the complainant.
It is alleged that Maumbwa knowingly received the money despite being aware that no services would be rendered.
Mr Kamone suffered a loss of US$15 000, and nothing was recovered. In a separate count, Maumbwa is also facing charges of defeating the course of justice.
The State alleges that on April 25, 2026, detectives from the CID Commercial Crimes Division, Harare, conducted a raid at the couple’s residence in Aspindale in connection with a fraud case in which Musika is a suspect.
Upon arrival, detectives identified themselves and requested to see Musika.
It is alleged that Maumbwa, after realising that the detectives had spotted her husband inside the house, locked all entry points and denied them access.
She allegedly assisted Musika to escape through another exit before later opening the door for the detectives, who failed to locate him.
