Zanu-PF MP duped US$100k in black magic deal

Published: 8 hours ago

Zanu-PF Member of Parliament for Masvingo South, Tanatsiwa Mukomberi, has reportedly been defrauded of US$100 000 in a suspected "black magic money" scam involving counterfeit US dollars and fake investment promises.

The accused, identified as John Elvis Gwed (42), appeared before magistrate Yapiwa Kuhudzayi and was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing.

Court papers allege that Mukomberi, who is also director of Vision Academy in Masvingo, was contacted in November last year by a man using a foreign number who introduced himself as Jonathan from Côte d'Ivoire and claimed to work for the Swiss Reserve Bank.

The suspect allegedly posed as an investor interested in funding education, mining and microfinance projects in Zimbabwe, prompting Mukomberi to engage him on a potential expansion of his school into a boarding institution.

Prosecutors say Gwed later travelled to Zimbabwe and met the MP at a hotel in Harare, where he allegedly produced a Swiss passport to convince him of his identity.

The accused is said to have claimed he had brought US$5 million in cash for investment, which required safe storage. The funds were allegedly delivered in trunks to Mukomberi's family in Masvingo.

He then reportedly told the MP that the cash was "soiled" and required cleaning using a specialised machine, which he said could be purchased in South Africa for US$100 000.

Mukomberi allegedly provided the money, after which the suspect later demanded additional funds before switching off his phone, raising suspicion.

When the trunk was eventually opened, it allegedly contained counterfeit currency instead of genuine US dollars.

The State further alleges that Gwed was later linked to the production and possession of counterfeit currency, following a police search at multiple locations in Harare, including a lodge in Gunhill and a residence in Kuwadzana 5.

Police reportedly recovered fake US dollar notes, equipment suspected to be used in counterfeit operations, and electronic devices during the search.

Investigations also link the accused to a separate attempted scam involving a farmer in Mutorashanga, where he allegedly offered a fake investment deal and requested large sums of money to "clean" allegedly soiled currency.

Authorities say the accused was arrested on May 23 and remains in custody as investigations continue.
- newsday

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