ZACC traps conman in clamping extortion

Michael Mashiri

A 29-year-old man has been arraigned before the court for pretending to be a city council employee and demanding money from a woman whose car had been clamped.

Shelton Marezva, 29, of Tynwald South, demanded money form the complainant, Rejoice Nyoni, 34, for her car to be released.

Marezva appeared before magistrate Apollonia Marutya at the Harare Magistrates' Courts charged with extortion.

The State, through prosecutor Thomas Chanakira, alleges that on July 4, 2024, Nyoni's car, a Toyota Vitz, was clamped for parking on an undesignated parking place by the Harare Municipality Police.

When she was arrested, she was instructed to accompany the officers to their offices at City of Harare Central Stores, Coventry Road, Harare.

At the offices, Nyoni was given a form of notice, serial number 37765, which instructed her to pay a fine of USS$68 to the City of Harare.

The court was informed that Nyoni paid the fine and was given a City of Harare receipt, serial number 14313159 which she was supposed to present to the Harare Municipal Police Traffic Enforcement section for her motor vehicle to be cleared and released to her.

The State alleges that Marezva, who was present at the Harare Municipal Police, Coventry offices, then approached Nyoni claiming to be a Harare Municipal Police employee, yet he was not employed there.

It is alleged that Marezva told Nyoni that although she had paid the fine, she was not going to get her car out and that it was going to continue accruing US$57 storage fee per day unless she paid him US$35 so that she gets her vehicle the same day.

The court heard that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission officers went to the City of Harare Central Store offices, Coventry Road, and conducted a trap.

Nyoni, in view of ZACC officers, handed over US$35 trap money to Marezva who claimed to have done the clearing process and that the vehicle was ready for collection.

Soon after Marezva received the money, officer Faith Kurima identified herself, demanded the money back after producing the trap authority, and subsequently arrested him.

He was granted a US$100 bail and will appear in court on August 8, 2024, for his routine remand.