Businesswoman's bid to have fraud case dismissed fails

Prominent businesswoman and Hezy Motors Logistics director Hezel Silibaziso Mafu has failed in her bid to be removed from remand as she faces multiple fraud charges involving an alleged vehicle importation scam that reportedly cost clients hundreds of thousands of United States dollars.

Mafu appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira on Monday, facing 14 counts of fraud involving allegations that her company collected payments from customers seeking to import vehicles from Japan but failed to deliver the cars.

The businesswoman, who is also facing 79 separate fraud charges in Harare, applied for refusal of further remand, arguing that delays in bringing her case to trial were violating her constitutional rights.

Representing herself, Mafu told the court that repeated journeys between Harare, where she resides, and Bulawayo were placing a significant financial burden on her.

"The matter has taken too long to kick-start since the initial remand. I stay in Harare and it is financially demanding for me to be always travelling from Harare to Bulawayo for further remand," she said.

"It is my constitutional right to have a speedy trial."

However, prosecutor Joseph Rugara opposed the application, arguing that investigations were still underway and that the complexity of the allegations required additional time.

"Fraud is a complex matter and due diligence has to be taken. We have requested for a bank statement from the bank and to get a bank statement from the bank is a procedural process that takes a bit of time," Rugara said.

Magistrate Dzira dismissed Mafu's application and postponed the matter to November 13. She remains out on US$500 bail.

According to prosecutors, Hezy Motors Logistics, which operated from premises at the corner of Fife Street and 11th Avenue in Bulawayo, allegedly advertised vehicle importation services and assured customers that vehicles would be sourced from Japan upon payment of a 50 percent deposit.

The outstanding balance was reportedly payable upon delivery.

However, the State alleges that several customers paid substantial amounts but never received their vehicles, while attempts to contact Mafu or recover their money proved unsuccessful.

In one case, a complainant allegedly paid US$3,940 towards the purchase of a vehicle that was never delivered.

"The first complainant paid US$3,940 to Hezy Motors Logistics (Pvt) Limited, but the accused failed to purchase the vehicle. When attempts to contact her failed, the matter was reported to police," Rugara told the court.

Another complainant seeking a Toyota Vitz valued at US$6,500 allegedly paid US$4,634 and ZWG37,791.81 in May 2026 but did not receive the vehicle.

Other complainants reportedly paid US$8,901 for a Nissan and US$4,893 for another Toyota Vitz, only to be left without their vehicles.

A woman who wanted a Nissan AD Van allegedly paid US$2,200 and received a receipt before being told to wait for delivery. She later reported the matter to the police after the vehicle failed to materialise.

In another case, a customer allegedly paid US$7,977 for a Toyota Aqua but was unable to recover the money when the transaction fell through.

The court also heard that a woman seeking a Honda Fit valued at US$6,900 paid US$4,000 as an initial instalment before making a further payment of US$1,608.

Prosecutors allege that Mafu subsequently became unreachable, with visits to her business premises yielding no results.

Several other customers reportedly made payments ranging from US$3,000 to nearly US$6,000 for vehicles that were never delivered.

One complainant allegedly paid US$6,450 in two instalments towards a vehicle valued at US$9,000, but attempts to contact the accused were unsuccessful.

Another woman paid US$3,800 for a Toyota Aqua after being assured that the company could import the vehicle from Japan. She reportedly returned to the offices two weeks later but could not locate Mafu.

The matter was eventually reported to the Commercial Crimes Division in Bulawayo, resulting in investigations and Mafu's arrest.

Meanwhile, Mafu is facing an even larger fraud case in Harare, where prosecutors accuse her of defrauding numerous customers of more than US$624,000 and ZWG1.27 million through similar vehicle importation arrangements.

She is facing 79 counts of fraud in that case.

Harare High Court judge Justice Custom Kachambwa previously granted her US$500 bail, subject to conditions requiring her to report every Friday to the Commercial Crimes Division's Northern Region offices in Harare.

The allegations across the two proceedings involve substantial sums, although the precise combined amount remains unclear from the reported figures.

Mafu has not been convicted of the charges, and the allegations remain subject to determination by the courts.

Her Bulawayo case is expected to return to court on November 13 as prosecutors continue gathering evidence, including banking records relating to the disputed transactions.