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Enrico Sibanda

Fungai Jachi Court Correspondent
The chairman of the Zimbabwe Business Awards, Enrico Mangono Sibanda, allegedly swindled two hotels and Mega Fest Holdings of $5 900 after he failed to pay his bills. Sibanda appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Batanai Madzingira charged with fraud. He was remanded to December 10 for trial. Prosecutor Mrs Devoted Gwashavanhu Nyagano alleged that on February 13 this year, Sibanda approached Crowne Plaza Hotel in Harare. He booked a breakfast meeting for 50 people to be held the following day.

The court heard that on the day of the meeting, Sibanda allegedly brought in an additional 200 people. He requested Crowne Plaza to offer the services on condition that he would pay an additional $3 000 after the function.

It is alleged that after the function, Sibanda became evasive and failed to pay the outstanding balance of $3 000. The State further alleged that on March 11, Sibanda approached Holiday Inn Hotel, Harare, and made a booking for 100 people for the International Women’s Day celebrations which were to be held on March 30.

The court heard that Sibanda was charged $1 500 and made a part payment of $600. It is alleged that he promised to pay the balance of $900 on March 30, the day of the event, but after the event he failed to pay.

Allegations are that in November 2014 Sibanda booked a venue for a function for 10 people that was scheduled to take place on November 18 this year. Sibanda was charged $1 250 for the event and also placed a $750 advertisement in the Mega Fest Magazine but allegedly failed to pay for both services. The court heard that Sibanda promised to clear his bill within a week but failed to keep his promise.

In all the three counts, Sibanda allegedly prejudiced the three organisations of $5 900 and nothing was recovered.