Former senior magistrate up for fraud

Michael Mashiri

A former senior magistrate at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts has been taken to court accused of participating in more than US$11 000 fraud.

The complainant in the matter is Shingirai Nyengere, a legal practitioner practicing with John Mugogo Attorneys.

Allen Nhamo Bhaswi, 35, of Tynwald South and Shane Kubonera, 42, who was once a magistrate at at Harare Magistrates Courts, now a lecturer, of Norton, appeared before magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa at the Harare Magistrates' Courts charged with fraud.

The State, through prosecutor Zvikomborero Mupasa, alleges that in June 2023, the accused engaged the Nyengere for legal services and after that a social relationship developed between them.

In September 2023, Bhasvi, allegedly contacted Nyengere and lied to him that he had the capacity to facilitate a US$60 000 agricultural loan for him as he was the chief of protocol in President Emmerson Mnangagwa's office.

Bhaswi allegedly convinced Nyengere to pay US$248 for the loan application

Bhaswi indicated to him that, he was keen to assist him as a reward for having assisted him and Kubonera whom he called his brother.

He went to say that he had made arrangements with the President of Zimbabwe for him to be President's property manager.

Bhaswi allegedly went on to tell the complainant that the President required a commitment fee for him to be appointed as property manager.

In October 2023, Nyengere received a call from someone who was pretending to be the President saying that, he had been told by Bhaswi that he was eager to work as his property manager.

The caller that, said he was scheduling a meeting with him at State House.

However, the meeting did not materialise as Bhaswi kept on saying the President had a busy schedule.

Later on, Bhaswi allegedly convinced Nyengere to give him US$2 000 after saying that the President had taken upon himself to assist him importing a car and a tractor.

On November 25, 2023, Bhaswi, allegedly enticed Nyengere to give him US$221, which he said was to buy an expensive wine for the President.

On the same day, Nyengere received a call from an unknown caller who introduced himself as President Mnangagwa and told him to pay US$3 500 for the importation of the car.

Nyengere managed to pay US$2 300 to Bhaswi.

Nyengere started to doubt the genuineness of Bhasvi’s claims and approached Kubonera, who vouched for Bhaswi’s integrity and confirmed indeed Bhaswi worked for the President.

From November 30, 2023 to January 17, 2024, it is alleged that the accused persons would, on different occasions, demand money in different quantities from Nyengere, claiming that it was needed to secure his meeting with the President and also for him to receive additional agricultural inputs and vehicles from the President.

The alleged total amount that Nyengere gave to the accused during this period was US$6 978.

On January 30, Nyengere received a call from a lady who claimed to be First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, instructing him to travel to Beitbridge with Bhaswi, but he doubted the claim and started to seriously suspect that he was being scammed.

On February 28, Nyengere reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, leading to the arrest of the accused persons.

As a result, Nyengere lost US$11 747 and nothing was recovered.