The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
In a fraud case that keeps on deepening, two men have appeared in court for allegedly defrauding Econet Zimbabwe of $14 million.
The duo, Gavin Tinashe Guwu (31) and Tshambo Madhava (41), appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Hanzi, facing fraud charges on Friday.
A fortnight ago, The Manica Post reported that two Econet Zimbabwe employees based in Chipinge had allegedly teamed up to swindle the mobile telecommunications giant of $24 million over a period of three months.
In the latest development on the fraud saga, Mukai Mapanzure, a sales consultant in Chipinge, is again at the centre of the fraud.
Guwu and Madhava were not asked to plead when they appeared in court last Friday.
They were ordered to pay $10 000 bail each.
The matter was remanded to May 15 for trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Timothy Katsande told the court that from December 30 last year to March 27 this year, the two connived with Mapanzure to defraud the telecommunications giant.
“Mapanzure had access to the database. He replaced a sim card for Econet’s merchant mobile broadband number 0784953460 and processed a private identification number to access the complainant’s merchant.
“Mapanzure then transferred $6 million from Econet’s account into Guwu’s agent number 0784718093,” said Mr Katsande.
On another occasion, Madhava received $8million on his agent number 0771337884.
It is the court’s case that the $14 million was used to buy United Stated dollars on the black market.
“Guwu then handed US$40 000 over to Madhava for temporary safe keeping. When Guwu collected the forex, he handed it over to Mapanzure.”
Only $3 million was recovered.
