A 42-year-old woman has appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court over allegations that she and an accomplice swindled a UK-based health worker of US$12,900 through a fictitious farm allocation scheme in Karoi.
Juliet Vera, 42, is charged with fraud. She is alleged to have acted with Linda Chigwengwendere, who is also facing charges.
The complainant, Hope Maumbe, works for the National Health Service in Bradford, United Kingdom.
The court heard that Maumbe met Vera on a flight to Kenya in 2025, where Vera allegedly claimed she had connections to facilitate land allocations through her sister, whom she said worked at the Ministry of Lands in Harare.
After Maumbe returned to Zimbabwe, Vera allegedly referred her to Chigwengwendere, who was said to have connections with war veterans involved in land allocations.
Between February and November 2025, Chigwengwendere allegedly contacted Maumbe, claiming she was travelling to Karoi to secure a farm for her.
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The State alleges Maumbe was asked to make various payments ranging from US$20 to US$900 for allocation fees and travel expenses. She allegedly sent the money through WorldRemit.
In August 2025, Vera allegedly told Maumbe that a farm had been allocated to her and claimed an offer letter had been given to a person identified as Ruvimbo Tangwena for delivery.
Tangwena allegedly demanded a further US$2,000, threatening that the farm would be given to someone else if payment was not made.
The State alleges Tangwena was fictitious.
Communication with the accused later stopped, prompting Maumbe to report the matter to police.
Investigations allegedly established that Chigwengwendere had been sharing the money with Vera.
The total alleged prejudice is US$12,900.
The matter was remanded for further proceedings.
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