A 39-year-old Ruwa woman allegedly defrauded a businessman of US$23 500 after falsely claiming that she had a shop for rent in Harare’s Central Business District and collecting rent and a security deposit for a property she did not own.
Tamari Kazamula, 39, of Ruwa, appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court facing fraud charges.
The complainant is Hakiza Jean Claude.
The court heard that sometime in June 2026, the complainant was looking for a liquor shop to rent in the Harare CBD.
He was referred to Kazamula by Abel Chibvure, a Commissioner of Oaths based at Number 92 Cameroon Street, who allegedly told him that Kazamula was the manager of Bendrose Investments and was responsible for letting shops at the address.
The court heard that in the second week of June 2026, the complainant met Kazamula at her offices at the corner of Robert Mugabe Road and E.D. Mnangagwa Road in Eastlea, Harare, where she was allegedly in the company of her accomplice, Fungai Learnmore Hwariva, who is still at large.
Kazamula allegedly told the complainant that the shop at Number 92 Cameroon Street belonged to Hwariva and was available for rent.
The complainant became interested and the parties held a meeting, where they agreed that he would pay US$2 700 per month, US$2 700 as a deposit, four months’ rent in advance and US$10 000 as security.
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On June 25, 2026, the complainant allegedly paid US$10 000 in cash to Kazamula as a security deposit in the presence of Chibvure and Hwariva.
A memorandum of agreement of lease between the complainant and Hwariva was signed and commissioned before Chibvure.
On July 17, 2026, the complainant allegedly made a further payment of US$10 800 for four months’ rent in advance, and US$2 700 as a deposit to Kazamula, again in the presence of her alleged accomplice.
On August 1, 2026, Kazamula allegedly handed over the shop keys, and the complainant started fitting out the premises and installing shelves.
The court heard that after completing the preparations, the complainant discovered that the same shop had been paid for by someone else.
Later that month, he was confronted by the owner of the building, Maxwell Chisvo, who accused him of occupying his shop without his knowledge.
It was then that the complainant realised he had allegedly been duped and made a police report.
The total prejudice is US$23 500, and nothing was recovered.
Kazamula was remanded on bail to a later date for trial, while investigations continue. Her alleged accomplice remains at large.
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