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(NEWZIMBABWE) Ex-MDC 99 man held over Mawere swindle

Ex-MDC 99 man held over Mawere swindle
Surprised ... Man falsely claimed Mutumwa Mawere (above) was leader of a new political party
24/11/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

AARON Muzungu, the former spokesman for the Job Sikhala-led MDC 99, has been arrested for allegedly defrauding a car rental company.

Muzungu, previously charged with illegally-selling diamonds to an undercover police officer, posed as an agent of the South Africa-based Zimbabwean businessman, Mutumwa Mawere, to hire six vehicles from Hill Top.
He ran up a US$54,000 car rental bill from September 2 to October 22 this year which he failed to pay.

Muzungu was grabbed by detectives at the Harare Magistrates’ Court where he was attending trial for vehicle theft relating to an incident in May this year when he allegedly drove off in a display vehicle at a Croco Motors car show.
Police spokesman Superintendent Andrew Phiri confirmed Muzungu’s arrest on Friday and said he would appear in court soon.

Phiri said Muzungu went to Hill Top in the company of Thandiwe Dube and Austine Duma where he misrepresented that he was the secretary-general of the newly-established United Movement for Democracy (UMD) political party with Mawere as its leader.
They hired the vehicles after claiming Mawere would pay.

Police say Dube and Duma are still at large.

Sources told New Zimbabwe.com several other companies and individuals, including the Zanu PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo, had been defrauded by Muzungu.

While on bail for allegedly stealing a brand new US$57,000 Ford Ranger from Croco Motors, Muzungu approached Carris Brook, a Harare car dealerhip, and got away with a Mercedes Benz valued at US$20,000, promising Mawere would pay for the vehicle.

But the dealership’s manager, Darlington Chidzvondo, became suspicious after two weeks when Muzungu failed to fulfil some of his promises.

Chidzvondo said: “He came in a convoy with several people, including a white lady, and told us he wanted four vehicles. He identified one worth US$70,000 for the party’s vice president Bibiana Musinami.
“We sold them the cheaper vehicle. The agreement of sale was signed in the name of the UMD political party.”

He said the vehicle was later recovered dumped at the Sheraton Hotel. Muzungu had left the keys with hotel security.

Muzungu also owes Malwatte restaurant and the Marondera Hotel after he booked with an entourage of 15 people whom he claimed were UMD leaders. Again, he said Mawere would pay. He checked out without paying and the hotel is struggling to recover its dues.

We were unable to ascertain the amount, but a source said the bill ran into thousands of dollars.

Using the same trick that Mawere would pay, Muzungu again duped a local mobile phone dealer of handsets worth US$2,000.

Kudzanai Mashumba, hand-picked by Muzungu to be chairman of the party, said he pulled out after suspecting Muzungu could be lying.

“I decided to call Mawere to get the story from him but he was surprised and told me he was not part of Muzungu’s party. He said he is South African by citizenship and there is was no way he can form a political party in Zimbabwe,” said Mashumba.

Another man who claimed to have been appointed treasurer of the party said Muzungu told them Mawere would release US$4 million to the party for campaigning but developed doubts when no money came.

Labels: AARON MUZUNGU, MDC, MDC CORRUPTION, MUTUMWA MAWERE

posted by MrK @ 7:40 PM