A HARARE businessman was fooled by an impostor who claimed to work for the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Resettlement and could help him purchase a farm.
When the suspect, John Chakahwanda, appeared in court before judge Dennis Mangosi yesterday, he was not asked to enter a plea.
Munyaradzi Addmore Chifodya of Greystone Park is the complainant.
According to the charges, the parties met in May of this year through one Victor Mukuchamano, and Chakahwanda was introduced as an employee of the Ministry of Lands.Chifodya indicated that he wanted a piece of land, preferably a farm, to use his knowledge in agriculture.
Chakahwanda allegedly went on to state that he was well connected with Lands Officers in Mashonaland West and would utilise those connections to acquire a farm, preferably in Mapinga, or alternatively Zvimba Area for Chifodya.
He claimed he would obtain an offer letter for the farm on Chifodya’s behalf.
Chifodya was then ordered by Victor Mukuchamano to give Chakahwanda US$2805 for him to start the process.
He paid the money and, after a week, he was advised that the land officers in Chinhoyi wanted money as motivation to speed up the process.
Chifodya complied and gave them an additional US$3 500.
He was ordered to pay another US$1100.
He became suspicious when Chakahwanda became evasive and the deal never materialised and this prompted him to file a police report.
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