Man fakes father's death to dupe lover of US$2,200

A 43-year-old Harare man appeared in court this week facing fraud charges after allegedly deceiving his girlfriend into giving him US$2,200 under false pretences.

Nobert Chifeya appeared before Harare magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai, accused of misleading his girlfriend, 44-year-old self-employed Janet Tariro Munyoro from Arcadia, into believing his father was gravely ill and later deceased.

According to court papers, Chifeya began his scheme in June 2024, informing Munyoro that his father, Godfrey Chifeya, required financial assistance for medical bills. Munyoro, seeking to help, provided him with funds as requested. In July 2024, Chifeya falsely claimed that his father had passed away and needed additional money for funeral and burial arrangements.

Over several months, Munyoro allegedly handed over a total of US$2,200 to Chifeya. Suspicious of the ongoing demands, she eventually contacted Chifeya's father directly and discovered that he had neither been ill nor deceased.

The State argues that Chifeya's misrepresentations caused Munyoro actual financial loss amounting to US$2,200. The case is ongoing.