Budiriro Man in Court for US$5k Forex Scam

Michael Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

A 28-year-old man from Budiriro 2, Tapiwanashe Murefu, has appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts facing fraud charges after allegedly swindling US$5 000 in a botched currency exchange deal.

Murefu is set to return to court on February 6, 2025, for routine remand.

According to the State, on December 30, 2024, the complainant was seeking US dollars in exchange for South African rand. He sought assistance from a friend, identified as Tonderai, who referred him to Stanley Ziyera—now in police custody.

Ziyera allegedly misrepresented that he had US$5,000 available in exchange for R94 000 and instructed the complainant to transfer the funds to a South African First National Bank (FNB) account under the name Bak Energy, belonging to one Brian Sungura.

The complainant transferred R94,000 from his Tazy Consulting Pty Ltd Standard Bank account into the Bak Energy FNB account and sent proof of payment to Ziyera via WhatsApp.

Murefu, allegedly working with Ziyera and another suspect, Tamai Tsamwise (who is still at large), then obtained banking details from Alhaji Arubi under the name Chlomani Investments Pty Ltd—an FNB account belonging to Ambrose Maritinyu.

Sungura subsequently transferred R93,800 into this account, and Arubi received US$5 000 from Maritinyu, which was handed over to Murefu for onward transmission to the complainant.

However, instead of delivering the money, Murefu and his accomplices reportedly converted the funds for personal use. When the complainant demanded his US$5,000, Ziyera allegedly failed to provide the cash and began evading him.

The complainant eventually managed to track down Ziyera and reported the matter to the police, leading to his arrest on December 30, 2024.

On January 24, 2025, police received further information that led to Murefu’s arrest. The total amount prejudiced in the alleged fraud stands at R94 000, equivalent to US$5 000.

Authorities are still pursuing Tsamwise, who remains on the run, as investigations continue.