A 28-year-old Harare woman is accused of defrauding several clients of more than US$15,000 after allegedly posing as an authorised Be Forward agent and taking payments for vehicles that were never delivered.
Regina Mandiya, who allegedly operated under the name Ginnah Motors from offices at Francis House along Jason Moyo Avenue in Harare's central business district, is facing five counts of fraud.
Prosecutors allege that Mandiya falsely presented herself as an authorised agent of Be Forward, a Japanese vehicle export company, and convinced clients to pay for vehicles and related importation costs.
One of the complainants, Roy Makokoro, was allegedly promised a Mazda Familia AD Van imported from Japan through Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Believing the representation, he paid US$2,748 for the vehicle and associated importation expenses.
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The State alleges that when Makokoro later followed up on the delivery, Mandiya informed him that the vehicle had been sold to another buyer and that no replacement was available. Despite repeated demands for a refund, she allegedly failed to reimburse him and later became unreachable. Her offices were reportedly found closed.
In another case, Maclloyd Tapera allegedly paid US$5,124 for a Toyota Passo, including clearing and transportation costs, after Mandiya claimed she could facilitate the importation.
After months of waiting, Tapera allegedly discovered that the vehicle had not been delivered. Although Mandiya reportedly continued assuring him that the car would arrive, it never did. She later referred him to another agent in Zambia, who allegedly advised that the vehicle could no longer be imported into Zimbabwe because the permitted importation period had expired.
The State alleges that Tapera's efforts to recover his money were unsuccessful.
Three other complainants — John Makese, Luluwa Annah Dhiki and Wilfred Mashaya — are alleged to have lost money in similar circumstances.
According to prosecutors, none of the money lost by the complainants has been recovered.
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