Charles Nyanguyo of Highfield, Harare, appeared before
Harare regional magistrate, Mr Trynois Utahwashe on Friday charged with fraud.
He is alleged to have duped Trymore Madzire after lying to
him that he was Mr Collins Mnangagwa and was in need of money to refuel his
trucks.
Nyanguwo is said to have told Madzire that he would repay
him within hours of landing home from the trip.
The suspected 53-year-old fraudster was not asked to plead
to the charges and was remanded in custody to tomorrow for bail ruling. This
was after Mr Taddy Kamuriwo, prosecuting, opposed bail saying he was a flight
risk.
Mr Kamuriwo told the court that Nyanguwo was in the habit
of duping people using names of top Government officials and his modus operandi
was so sophisticated that once he is freed, he was likely to commit other
offences.
“The investigating officer in the matter clearly revealed
that there was serious expertise in the manner he committed the offence.
“He indicated that he was into truck and fuel business which
makes it clear that he was internationally connected through his business when
visiting Mozambique and South Africa.
“The accused had the audacity to use names of top
Government officials which means he can interfere with witnesses and also dupe
other people,” he said.
The State also argued that Nyanguwo had failed to produce
his identity particulars, which made it difficult to ascertain his true
identity.
Mr Kamuriwo also said Nyanguwo gave wrong addresses of
where he claims his company was operating from including that of a Glen View 8
house he sold in 2012.
Responding through his lawyer, Nyanguwo told the court that
he was of ill-health and would want to be tried while coming from home. He said
he will be exposed to contracting Covid-19 in remand prison.
“There are reports of Covid-19 at remand prison. Because of
his special health condition, he will be at risk of contracting the Covid-19.
He is also denying ever committing the offences, which means he can be given a
benefit of doubt and be tried while coming from home,” he said.
Nyanguwo proposed that he be ordered to pay any amount as
bail and that he reports at least once a week to conduct his business.
Circumstances leading to his arrest are that on September
28 this year, he called Madzire while passing himself as Mr Collins Mnangagwa,
who had just arrived in South Africa.
Nyanguwo is said to have told Madzire that his private jet
had run out of fuel and wanted some money for refuelling.
It is said Nyanguwo asked Madzire to deposit the money in a South African Capitec Bank and he deposited the money.
On September 29, Madzire gave Edwin Muza Nyanguwo’s South
African mobile phone number so that he could communicate with Nyanguwo for the
collection of the money on his behalf in Zimbabwe.
Muza is said to have communicated with Nyanguwo, who
pretended to be Collins Mnangagwa and was busy in a meeting with the President
at Munhumutapa Building in Harare.
Nyanguwo is alleged to have told Muza to wait until he was
done with President Mnangagwa. It is said that Nyanguwo was never seen and
switched off his cellphones.
The offence came to light when Madzire asked his friend
Cosmas Mushaninga about Collins’ visit to South Africa and about the money.
Collins is said to have denied ever being in South Africa,
prompting Madzire to lodge a complaint with the police leading to Nyanguwo’s
arrest. Herald
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