Man loses US$$730 in botched perimeter wall deal

… police reportedly free accused without court appearance

Zim Now Writer

A serving Zimbabwe National Army member stationed at the Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks in Harare lost US$730 to a suspected Harare fraudster in a botched perimeter wall deal.

Kudakwashe Chindunga, 39, entered into an agreement with Kevin Tshuma, 35, of Harare to construct a Gabion perimeter wall on a property belonging to his Ireland-based nephew.

The total cost of the work was US$1 300 and on October 27, 2023, Tshuma was given US$700 as deposit in the Harare central business district with the balance payable on completion of the job.

Tshuma dragged finishing the job and on November 21, 2023 - a month later - he asked for money to buy more materials for perimeter wall inserts. Again he met Chindunga in the Harare CBD and he was given US$730.

A follow-up was made three days later to have the materials delivered but Tshuma became evasive.

The Gabion perimeter wall had also not been completed and he blocked all communication, prompting Chindunga and his nephew to inquire with the Harare-based fencing company where they discovered he had been sacked a month earlier.

Tshuma agreed to reimburse the money following the revelations but, however, did not, leading to Chindunga filing a police report at Harare Central Police Station (docket number CR232/12/23)

Tshuma, whose his last known address is 34/1/44 NRZ Security Quarters, converted the US$730 to his personal use and nothing was recovered. The complainant managed to track down Tshuma with the help of his friends in the police, who arrested him in December 2023 before handing him over to the investigating officer, one Constable Muvirimi.

Surprisingly, Tshuma was not taken to court and was released, leading to the complainant inquiring with the police where he was advised that they were going to court on December 21, 2023.

The complainant was reportedly told by Cst Muvirimi to go straight to the Harare Magistrates’ Courts and wait for him and the accused by they did not turn up.

Around midday, the police officer told Chindunga that the accused had agreed to return the money so he was to come to Harare Central Police Station to get his US$730 back.

That was the last he could hear of the matter despite Chindunga making several visits to the police officer but with no help.

Then on February 7, 2024, the complainant -together with his nephew who had come from Ireland - went to see Cst Muvirimi and they were reportedly told that the docket was sent to court for consideration. Efforts to get comment from the police had not yielded results at the time of writing.