Prophetes Magaya's botched car deal, another car dealer appears in court

A Harare car dealer who reportedly worked in cahoots with Oceane Perfumes managing director, Hupenyu Ignitious Prosper Mashangwa to dupe Walter Magaya's wife $116 000 by evading payment of motor vehicle duty appeared in court on Thursday.

Victor Ngonidzashe Matiyenga, 27, who runs a car sale at Greencroft in Harare, appeared before magistrate Tendai Mahwe charged with fraud.

He was granted $100 bail and remanded to April 30.

Mashangwa reportedly romped in a Harare commodity broker Cosmas Mushininga who facilitated the purchase of the car in South Africa which he said was for Magaya's wife.

After Mushininga purchased the car, a driver was hired to deliver the car to Mashangwa in Harare where Matiyenga was allegedly given money and documentation which he had requested for clearance purposes.

Matiyenga was also allegedly given money for duty.

Prosecutor Sharon Mashavira alleged that Admire Mango a senior overseer at Magaya's church wanted to import a high powered motor vehicle for the cleric's wife.

Mango sought for a supplier of Land Rover Discovery 4, 2014 model and was referred to Mashangwa.

The two had a verbal agreement that Mashangwa would import the car from South Africa and deliver it by August 22.

Mashangwa was given $80 000 and imported the vehicle on September 15.

He then approached Mango asking for $36 000 which he said was meant for import duty and registration fees.

The vehicle was registered under number ADM 3240 with Central Vehicle Registry.  After importing the vehicle the trio reportedly misrepresented to Zimra officials that the vehicle was a 2004 model and Magaya had bought it on January 24, 2009 at a KM public auction in Matabeleland.

Due to the misrepresentation, Zimra undervalued the vehicle at $18 000 and the accused persons were made to pay five percent of the amount, which is $900.  The anomalies were discovered by Zimra on March 13 this year leading to the seizure of the vehicle and issuance of a notice of seizure to Magaya.

The accused persons' actions caused Magaya's wife to be prejudiced of a vehicle that was acquired at $116 000.