3 foreigners cash in on Zimbos' love for miracle m...

3 foreigners cash in on Zimbos' love for miracle money and cures

**The three foreigners being led into court**

Michael Mashiri

Two Zambians and one Ugandan residing in Waterfalls who allegedly pretended to be sangomas in order to defraud money from people have been denied bail.

Kimbugwe Yub Ibrah, 26, of Zambia, Hillary Ssebunya, 29, and Godfrey Nasasira, 27, both of Uganda, appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts facing fraud, money laundering and entering and remaining in Zimbabwe without a valid permit.

The complainants in this matter are Standford Chaka, Miriam Kangaza and fifty-six others.

The State, through prosecutor Zebediah Bofu, alleges that in May 2023, the three entered Zimbabwe and stayed without valid permits.

During their stay, they came up with a way to defraud people and they contacted one, Denis Mayega, who has already appeared in court.

Muyega, brought around nine mobile phone lines which were used to open InnBucks accounts in their names.

They also opened Facebook pages with names, Sekuru Banda, Gamora, The Great Jenko which were linked to the lines.

After that, they started to advertise on these pages and distributing fliers that they were sangomas with spiritual powers that could bring back lost love, multiply money 10 times its value, cure Aids within 10 to 16 days after using their medicine and also gave magic rings and wallets.

The complainants responded to the misrepresentation and contacted them looking for the services they had advertised and paid different amounts through InnBucks and Mukuru for them to get medicines for Aids as well as money multiplication.

In order to make them believe, accused would call the victims on Whatsapp video and show them the black trunk with traditional regalia, pretending to be performing rituals of calling spiritual powers.

They would withdraw the money at different InnBucks retail outlets from many of their victims.

The offence came to light when they were captured together with Mayega on camera withdrawing US$98 from an InnBucks account on July 29, 2023, on July 21, 2023, on July 11, 2023 at Fantasyland corner Speke Avenue and Innez Terrace.

Ibrah was arrested at Sami Levy’s Village. When he was searched he was found with Ssebunya's passport.

Ssebunya and Nasasira were arrested at number 3309 Mainway Meadows, Waterfalls, Harare.

A trunk with beads, bottles with water, red and white clothes was found in Nasasira's room.

Investigations revealed that the accused sent part of the money to their respective countries and the other they used it for their upkeep and to buy phones, laptops and Ibrah’s Mercedes Benz car.

They were ordered to appear in court on August 9 for bail.