Kidney transplant patient loses US$13k to an Ecoca...

Kidney transplant patient loses US$13k to an Ecocash agent

Michael Mashiri

An Ecocash Agent from Dzivarasekwa 4 has been charged with fraud for stealing money donated for the complainant, Nigel Makono's niece for medical attention.

Tendai Chibwe, 46, appeared before magistrate Simon Kandiyero at the Harare Magistrate's Courts charged with fraud.

The State, through prosecutor Thomas Chanakira, alleges that sometime in January, Makono’s niece Ruth Hwarara fell ill and required an urgent kidney transplant surgery.

Makono did not have the money to pay for the services to have his niece medical attention as a result he advertised on social media seeking donations from well-wishers.

It is alleged that, after advertising, Makono received donations in his personal Ecocash account number and decided to liquidate the payment in order for him to receive more donations as his Ecocash had reached its limit.

Then on April 3, 2024, Makono visited Chibwe's Econet shop, that is located at Thull Service Station along Bulawayo road, in Dzivaresekwa 4, Harare, intending to do a cash out transaction of US$6 000.

It is alleged that Makono then transferred US$6 000 in batches of US$500 and was assured by Chibwe that money was readily available.

The State further alleged that Makono acted in confidence that Chibwe had the money and transferred the US$ 6000 from his Ecocash number in trust, into Ecocash agent number 022478 registered in the name of the accused.

After the transfer, Chibwe allegedly only gave Makoni US$500 cash contrary to what he had said earlier.

Chibwe promised Makoni to come back after 30 minutes but Makoni allegedly failed to go back and promised that he would go back later in the day since he was rushing to attend to his niece at the hospital.

The court heard that Makoni later made additional transfers to Chibwe making the total amount to US$13 000 and Chibwe only paid him a total of US$1 100.

Efforts to collect the balance did not yield anything as Chibwe became evasive.

The total value stolen is US$13 000 and only US$1 100 was recovered.

He was granted US$100 bail and will appear in court September 26, 2024.