A Ghanaian national has appeared before the courts in Harare facing fraud charges after allegedly duping Masvingo South legislator Tanatsiwa Mukomberi of US$100,000 in a fake foreign investment scheme.
The accused, John Elvis Gwed, was remanded in custody pending a bail application after appearing before a Harare magistrate.
Court proceedings heard that the MP, who is also a director at Vision Academy in Masvingo, was approached in November 2025 via a phone call from an international number. The caller allegedly introduced himself as “Jonathan Gwe” from Ivory Coast and claimed to be working for the Swiss Reserve Bank.
He allegedly told Mukomberi that he was seeking to invest US$5 million in Zimbabwe across sectors such as education, mining and microfinance.
Prosecutors say the MP became interested in the offer as he was planning to expand his academy into a boarding school.
The accused allegedly followed up the conversation while in Johannesburg and later arranged a meeting in Harare at Holiday Inn, where he reportedly presented a Swiss passport bearing his photograph to support his claims.
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He is said to have promised a US$1 million injection into the education project, further convincing the MP of the deal’s authenticity.
On December 10, 2025, the accused allegedly told Mukomberi that he had brought trunks of cash into Zimbabwe and required a secure place to store them. The MP, according to court evidence, referred him to his wife in Masvingo to assist.
The following day, the accused allegedly claimed the cash had been chemically treated and needed a special machine from South Africa to clean the notes, costing US$100,000.
Believing the story, Mukomberi allegedly provided the money.
However, suspicions were raised days later when the accused allegedly requested more funds. When Mukomberi attempted to access the trunks, the accused allegedly disappeared after switching off his phone.
Upon opening the luggage, Mukomberi reportedly discovered pillows and an electric iron instead of cash, with the trunks containing counterfeit notes.
Investigations later established that the MP had been defrauded of US$100,000.
The matter is now before the courts as proceedings continue.
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