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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
Bretton Motors (Pvt) Ltd, and its managing director Allen Chazura Mbazima yesterday appeared in court on allegations of luring civil servants into a scheme to purchase ex-Japanese cars and in the process defrauding them of US$12 000. Bretton Motors is represented by Mbazima, who is also charged in his personal capacity.

Mbazima is facing fraud charges and Harare magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe remanded him on US$100 bail.
As part of his bail conditions Mbazima was ordered to surrender his passport, report every Friday at CID Serious Frauds, reside at the given address and not to interfere with witnesses pending finalisation of the matter.

Prosecutor Ms Sharon Mashavira told the court that Bretton Motors is a company in the business of importing motor vehicles from Japan for resale.

It is alleged that sometime in December 2011 Mbazima hatched a plan to defraud potential motor vehicle buyers.
Persuant of his plan, Mbazima advertised in a local newspaper and to a Zimbabwe National Army brigade that he had was running a scheme that assisted civil servants to acquire motor vehicles from Japan on a hire purchase basis.

Acting on the misrepresentation, the complainants (all civil servants) allegedly entered into a lease agreement with Mbazima for the purchase of the vehicles.

The court heard that the 12 complainants deposited various amounts into Mbazima’s Barclays Bank, Pearl House Branch account number 020441017723621.

It is alleged that the vehicles were supposed to be delivered within six weeks from the time of purchase.
The vehicles were never delivered. Instead Mbazima closed his offices and became evasive.

This prompted the complainants to report the matter to the police leading to his arrest.
The complainants suffered prejudice to the tune of  US$12 212 none of which was recovered.