A Zimbabwean woman identified as Doreen Mandivenga, has been arrested for defrauding her niece of $350,000 through a fraudulent scheme.
The Senota resident was arrested on Feb 12, appeared in court for the charges and has been remanded to custody pending her bail ruling on Feb 17.
According to the state Prosecutor, Anesu Chirenje, the culprit lured her niece, Nyevero Makuke by introducing a fraudulent investment to her. Mandivenga described the investment as a risk-free opportunity, lucrative, offering a minimum of 4% return.
Anesu further explained that the alleged scam ran from May 2023 to September 2024 in which Makuke invested $350,000. Thereafter, the 39-year-old construction business director reported Mandivenga to the police after failed attempts to recover her funds.
The prosecutor noted that the Harare woman issued promissory notes as proof of receipt and also paid Makuke $110,000 to appear legitimate. However, Mandivenga became vague whenever her niece asked about her further returns or made an attempt to withdraw her investment.
Meanwhile, a court respondent, Yeukai Karengezeka, disclosed that the culprit worked with an accomplice, Jesman Chonzi who is yet to be arrested. Additionally, authorities have confirmed that no funds have been recovered to date.
Similarly, a Zimbabwean court has also commenced trial into the case of a Harare couple accused of fraudulently changing the management of Valley Lodge to steal funds. It is worth mentioning that the Valley Lodge is linked with the former Governor of the Reserved Bank of Zimbabwe, Gidoen Gono.
According to the report, Gono employed the couple to help manage the lodge among other properties. Few months later, the couple allegedly forged a key document that made them owners of the Valley Lodge.
With the document, the couple reportedly changed the signatories to their names, emptying the company’s account.
