Man Faces Charges For Defrauding Zimbabwe Agricultural Show Society Tenants Of USD 31k

A 33-year-old man defrauded Zimbabwe Agricultural Show Society tenants of USD 31,570 in an unexpected and shocking act.

According to a report made to the police, On 23 January 2025 around 17:42 hours, Paddington Majembwa received a message from a Smart Electricity employee on WhatsApp to verify a suspicious receipt from Ethical Solutions, tenants at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society.

Majembwa verified that ticket number 72193 issued to Smart Electricity was fake. Further investigations revealed that Simbarashe Charinge received cash for electricity bills from various tenants at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society.

It is alleged that after receiving the money, the accused issued the tenants fake receipts and converted the cash to his own use. Some of the companies that were duped are F and G Bar, Clear Hurst Investment, Mudhimba and Vhori Investment and Cyber-vet Investment.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Harare provincial spokesperson Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the abuse and said investigations are underway.

“The informant and the accused person are employees of Zimbabwe Agricultural Show in the accounts department. On 23 January 2025 around 1742 hours, the informant received message through a WhatsApp platform from a Smart Electricity employee claiming that he had received a suspicious receipt from Ethical Solutions who are tenants at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society and that he wanted to verify the authenticity of the receipt.

“The informant verified ticket number 72193 that had been issued to Smart Electricity and established that it was fake. The informant made further investigations and discovered that the accused person received various amounts of cash meant for electricity bills from different tenants at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society.

“After receiving the money the accused person then issued the tenants with fake receipts for the cash tendered and converted the money to his own use. Some of the companies that were duped are F and G Bar, Clear Hurst Investment, Mudhimba and Vhori Investment and Cyber-vet Investment.

“A case of fraud was reported at ZRP Kopje. Scene was attended and the accused person was arrested. The accused person is currently detained at ZRP Harare Central. Total value defrauded is USD$31 570-00.”