Fake Zimra officer dupes job seekers

A MUTARE woman (32) who masqueraded as a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officer and duped unsuspecting job seekers of cash amounting to $1 300 has appeared in court.

Mary Matseka was facing four counts of fraud charges when she appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira last week.

She was not asked to plead and was remanded out of custody on $50 bail.

Mr Gwezhira ordered her to continue residing at her given address and not to interfere with State witnesses.

She was also ordered to report once every Friday at Criminal Investigations Department at Mutare Central Police Station once a fortnight on Fridays.

Matseka was represented by Mutare lawyer, Mr Justice Fusire, while Mr Fletcher Karombe prosecuted.

Allegations were that Matseka misrepresented herself to four different people as a Zimra official, a Mrs Muyambo.

She allegedly claimed that she was looking for six people to be employed by Zimra.

Matseka, however, would demand $350 for the interested job seekers to facilitate the recruitment process.

She allegedly told them that the recruitment process would take place on December 16, 2016.

Kudzai Moyo and her husband, Ashton Tinashe Chasuka allegedly gave Matseka $400 cash as deposit for their employment.

They further transferred $200 into Matseka’s Ecocash account on December 14, of which she told them that they had to settle the outstanding balance before they commenced work at Zimra on December 16.

On the supposed day of recruitment, Matseka is alleged to have texted Moyo and Chasuka instructing them to communicate with Mrs Moyo and Mrs Dzingai as they were the ones responsible for recruiting them.

“She provided them with phone numbers, but Mrs Moyo’s calls went unanswered.

“On December 20, Matseka invited Moyo to Zimra offices in Harare for a refund as they had not been recruited,” said Mr Karombe.

However, when Moyo arrived at Zimra offices in Harare she was told that Matseka was not a Zimra employee.

Using the same method of trickery, Matseka allegedly duped Happymore Makore, John Renos Muyambo and Kureti Zeka.

Total amount prejudiced from all complainants is $1 301 and nothing was recovered.

The matter was adjourned to February 3, 2017.