Technologically challenged small house duped of boyfriend's money

A TECHNOLOGICALLY-CHALLENGED female soldier lost US$250 to her friend who had assisted her to make a withdrawal at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in Harare. To make matters worse, the soldier had been sent to withdraw the money by her boyfriend who is also a member of the uniformed force.

Private Emilia Baira, 22, who is believed to be having an illicit affair with her boyfriend Tawanda Nhamo, accuses her friend Jane Nyeke, 21, of duping her after she had assisted her to withdraw money.
They are both stationed in Chiredzi. The money was intended to be given to Nhamo's family in Bindura to buy some Christmas groceries.

Interestingly, Nhamo had lied that Emilia was just a mere workmate while in fact they were having an affair, it is alleged. The scam was unearthed when Emilia surrendered the bank card to Nhamo who then discovered that a transaction had been made. "Jane is ungrateful for all the favours I have done to her. I bought her some clothes only to discover that she is a thief," said Emilia.

"I first suspected her behaviour as she was seducing my boyfriend. Her parents did not even show remorse when I confronted them over their child's conduct before they sold their stove and other utensils to raise the money. "I threatened her that the bank officials had agreed to play the video on CCTV video and she then admitted that she had made a withdrawal and pocketed the money.
"In fact she got to know Nhamo's pin code after she had helped me to make a transaction in a shop," narrated Emilia.

Jane's mother produced the deposit slips of the money she paid to Emilia to recover Nhamo's money dated 7 December 2011. "We have agreed to settle the debt and we paid all the money but now Emilia demands a top up of US$100. "You can check on these deposit slips that I have to prove that we paid. "We know that Nhamo is not the one who wants the extra cash but anyway we will meet Emilia's demands," said Jane's mother.

Jane also confirmed that she took advantage of Emilia's ignorance and duped her of the money. "It is true that I took the ATM card and withdrew the cash because Emilia used to ask me to withdraw on her behalf as she is technologically challenged," said Jane. "She does not know how to use the card and she revealed the PIN number to me so that I withdraw the cash for her.

"Probably she felt shy to ask her boyfriend to teach her how to use the ATM card. "At one time I accompanied Emilia to deliver some groceries to Nhamo's wife in Bindura because they work together in Chiredzi. "As for Nhamo, he is not of the class that I would fall in love with and I am sorry to say that," said Jane.

Efforts to get a comment from Nhamo were fruitless as his mobile phone was with Emilia in Mufakose. Emilia and Jane live in the same neighbourhood along Gaudya Street in Mufakose while Jane is attached to Vineyard Funeral Assurance Company as a sales representative.