A Harare man has been sentenced to 56 months in prison by magistrate Rumbidzai Mugwagwa after he was convicted of defrauding several high-ranking government officials of a total amount of over $12 000.
Tinashe Munhuweyi (36), of Mufakose in Harare, called his victims pretending to be the former High Court judge Justice Mafios Cheda and need of urgent help.
Among Munhuweyi’s victims is Deputy Minister for Defence and War Veterans Affairs Victor Matemadanda, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Dr Sekai Nzenza and Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Richard Moyo.
In the case of Matemadanda, Muhuweyi contacted the war veterans leader on September 17 last year while pretending to be Justice Cheda.
He said that he had two trucks which had run out of fuel at Chirundu Border Post and asked for $600 to refuel the trucks and pay for other expenses.
Matemadanda sent the money via EcoCash, but Munhuweyi became evasive when the former asked for the repayment of the debt.
Magistrate Mugwagwa set aside six months from the 56 months sentence on condition of good behaviour. A further 12 months were suspended on condition Munhuweyi restitutes all the victims on or before January 1, next year.
