SIMBARASHE Chivandire, a soldier based at 5 Brigade in Battlefields, appeared at the Kwekwe Magistrates’ Court yesterday on charges of swindling two female job seekers of $450 after promising to secure them jobs in the army.
BLESSED MHLANGA STAFF REPORTER
Chivandire appeared before resident magistrate Taurai Manwere facing two counts of fraud after he allegedly misrepresented himself as a Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) recruitment officer to Sheila Chavarira and Samantha Ngwenya, who are both unemployed.
The State alleged that sometime in May last year, Chivandire (27), who is part of ZNA’s intelligence unit, misrepresented to the two complainants — Chavarira and Ngwenya — that he could facilitate their employment in the army on condition they each paid $250.
Ngwenya allegedly deposited $200 into Chivandire’s EcoCash account, while Chavarira paid $250 cash when the three met at a food court in Kwekwe last year on a date unknown to the State.
However, after receiving the cash, Chivandire allegedly became evasive until the complainants reported him to his superiors on April 2 this year.
Chivandire denied the charges and was remanded out of custody to May 28 for trial.
Fiona Mukwena represented the State.
