Bogus Zesa agent nabbed

A BOGUS Zesa Holdings agent was arrested in Harare for allegedly defrauding three Harare residents of $650 after misrepresenting to them that he supplies electricity meters.

Hillary Meki deceived Phildah Mateneke, Tendai Tawani and Annah Jacob of Warren Park, who wanted to install electricity meters at their houses that he was a registered ZESA agent .

He indicated to them that he would register their meters with ZESA upon installation and their payment.

Meki appeared before Harare magistrate, Mrs Barbra Chimboza facing charges of fraud and was remanded to August 3 on $50 bail.

Prosecuting, Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleged that sometime in December last year, Mateneke approached Meki after having been referred to him by her nephew as she wanted a prepaid electricity meter installed at her house.

It is alleged that Meki came in the company of his friend named Augustine and identified themselves as ZESA agents, who could install the prepaid meter and register it upon payment.

The court heard that they were given $250 for the meter and they connected it.

It is the State’s case that after a week, ZESA officials came inspecting houses and told Mateneke that she had illegally connected her meter and removed it.

She called Meki, who again came with his colleague and fixed another meter and demanded $50 for registration.

It is further alleged that ZESA officials came again and removed the meter.

They gave Mateneke a final warning and when she tried to call Meki, he was no longer answering his phone.

In the other case, sometime in December the same year, Tawani was referred to Meki by a neighbour as she wanted an electricity meter installed at her house.

She called Meki who charged her $250 for the installation.

Tawani paid $100 and agreed with Meki to pay the remainder in instalments.

The court heard that Meki later called Tawani informing her that he had found the meter so she was supposed to send him $50 through mobile transfer for registration.

Tawani paid the money but Meki did not show up.

Further allegations are that sometime in October the same year, Jacob called Meki as she also wanted him to install an electricity meter.

Meki charged her $250 which she paid after the installation.

The court was told that on January 6 this year, ZESA officials came, removed the meter and penalised her for using an illegal meter.

It is alleged that Jacob called Meki, who requested $50 to bribe the ZESA officials but nothing materialised and Jacob reported the matter to the police.