The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has once again warned the public about a scam involving an unidentified individual impersonating Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United States of America, David Hamadziripi, highlighting a recurring pattern in which the diplomat’s identity has been exploited by fraudsters over the years.
In its latest alert, the Ministry said the scammer has been contacting unsuspecting victims, including high-profile individuals in Zimbabwe, falsely claiming to be Ambassador Hamadziripi and requesting urgent financial assistance for alleged personal and family problems.
The impostor has reportedly been using a WhatsApp number with a South African country code, +27 67 213 3253.
The Ministry clarified that Ambassador Hamadziripi is no longer based in South Africa and no longer uses telephone numbers with the +27 country code. It further confirmed that the Ambassador is well and safe at his current duty station.
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Members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant when engaging through social media and other digital communication platforms, particularly when approached with urgent requests for money. The Ministry advised that all communications relating to the Ministry and Zimbabwe’s embassies abroad should be verified through the Directorate for Public Diplomacy, Communication and Advocacy on 0713 346 979 or 0773 647 164.
This is not the first time fraudsters have targeted Ambassador Hamadziripi’s identity. About five years ago, the Ministry issued a similar warning after an impostor, claiming to be Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa, solicited money and donations from members of the public, particularly prominent Zimbabweans.
At the time, the scammer falsely claimed that the ambassador was distributing donated goods or equipment and requested money to cover transportation costs.
Then Ministry spokesperson Constance Chemwayi warned that neither Ambassador Hamadziripi nor the Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa was giving out donations of any kind, describing the individual behind the scheme as a fraudster and urging victims to report the matter to the police and the embassy.
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