HARARE, Feb. 12 (NewsDay Live) – Suspected serial fraudster Vitalis Munemo has been remanded in custody by Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo on allegations of duping a local man of US$13 000 after posing as a car dealer facilitating vehicle imports.
Munemo was not asked to plead when he appeared before Moyo on Tuesday.
The complainant in the matter is Cephas Gasura.
The State alleges that in July 2024, Gasura intended to import a Honda Vezel and approached Munemo, who allegedly misrepresented that he had the capacity to import the vehicle on his behalf.
Munemo reportedly indicated that the total importation cost, including customs duty and logistics, was US$13 000.
Acting on the alleged misrepresentation, Gasura paid US$12 050 towards the importation of the vehicle. Munemo allegedly promised to deliver the vehicle in October 2024.
In October 2024, Munemo allegedly informed Gasura that he had encountered challenges and that the vehicle would instead arrive in January 2025.
In January 2025, Gasura made follow-ups with Munemo, who allegedly claimed that the vehicle was at Chirundu Border Post on the Zambian side awaiting clearance and duty payment.
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Gasura continued making follow-ups, but Munemo allegedly kept giving excuses. Gasura managed to recover US$4 000 before Munemo allegedly became evasive, prompting him to file a police report.
The total value prejudiced is US$12 050, of which US$4 000 was recovered.
Munemo is also facing another fraud charge involving US$33 000 allegedly received for the importation of a truck. The complainant in that case is Vitalis Dingani.
It is alleged that in August 2024, Dingani approached Munemo intending to import three vehicles. Dingani knew Munemo as a car dealer and vehicle import agent operating from Netway Car Sales opposite Prince Edward High School.
Dingani reportedly sought to import an Iveco truck, a DAF truck and a trailer. They allegedly agreed on payment terms, with Munemo charging £18 210 for the Iveco truck, £4 500 for the trailer and £4 239 for the DAF truck.
Shipping expenses were reportedly £11 740, bringing the total cost for the three vehicles and shipping to £38 690. However, Dingani allegedly did not proceed with purchasing the DAF truck and only paid for the Iveco truck and trailer.
On August 12, Dingani allegedly paid a deposit of £8 950 towards the Iveco truck and paid a further £9 250 the following day as the balance.
On August 16, he allegedly paid £4 500 for the trailer. On September 21, he reportedly paid £10 400 towards shipping costs, leaving a balance of £1 340, which he allegedly settled on November 4.
Munemo allegedly instructed Dingani to send a driver to Walvis Bay to collect the truck and trailer. The driver reportedly spent nine days searching for Munemo but returned to Zimbabwe empty-handed after failing to locate him.
Munemo allegedly received a total of £33 470 for the purchase and shipping of the vehicles, which he allegedly converted to personal use.
The total value prejudiced is £33 470, which translates to US$44 180.40 at an exchange rate of US$1.32 to £1. Nothing was recovered.
