Harare businessman in $76,000 vehicle import fraud

A local businessman, Elias Murandu, 37, has been charged with fraud after allegedly deceiving the director of Cobra Security in a failed vehicle importation scheme involving a total of US$76,000.

Murandu appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo last week to answer allegations brought by Misheck Zvarivadza, the director of Cobra Security. According to the court, Murandu claimed he could facilitate the import of three vehicles from South Africa - a Range Rover for US$29,000, a Toyota Hilux Legend 50 for US$24,000, and a Toyota Fortuner for US$23,000.

Acting on Murandu's assurances, Zvarivadza paid the full amount of US$76,000 through a combination of cash payments and bank transfers. However, the vehicles were never imported, and Murandu repeatedly delayed delivery with empty promises before eventually becoming unreachable.

The failure to deliver the vehicles led Zvarivadza to report the matter to the police, resulting in the fraud charges against Murandu. The case remains before the courts as investigations continue.