Woman dupes relative in diaspora

A Dzivaresekwa 2 woman was last week hauled to court on allegations of duping her relative of more than US$16 000 meant to buy building materials for her house while she was in diaspora.

Tafadzwa Chifonono, 30, however denied the allegations when she appeared before Harare magistrate Blessing Murwisi charged with theft of trust property.

Chifonono told the court that she did not convert the money to her own use but withdrew the money and gave it to her husband who is in Mozambique as ordered by the complainant Constance Chigwada.

"Your Worship I did not withdraw the money and use it as being claimed by the complainant.

"She is the one who ordered me to withdraw the money and give it to my husband who is now in Mozambique," she said.

Magistrate Murwisi remanded her out of custody to a later date on US$100 bail.

Circumstances leading to the arrest are that on July 1 2016, Constance got into an agreement with Chifonono where she would withdraw her money and buy materials for her house in Waterfalls.

It is alleged that Constance would deposit money in Chifonono's CBZ account and task her to take that money and buy housing materials.

Some of the money is alleged to have been deposited by Constance's tenant only identified as Katsande.

The State also alleges that a total of US$16 015 was deposited Chifonono's account but she did not buy anything.

It is also said that Chifonono withdrew the money and gave it to her husband who is in Mozambique.

A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of Chifonono.

Sebastian Mutizirwa appeared for the State.