Zimpapers Logo

Senior Court Reporter
A Harare man allegedly masqueraded as a top official at Nyaradzo Funeral Services and swindled job-seekers of their money after promising them jobs. Benbela Gano (47) ordered the job-seekers to send $100 each via EcoCash allegedly for fingerprint verification and administration. Gano pleaded guilty to a fraud charge when he appeared in court last Friday.

His alleged accomplice, Anyway Muusha, is denying the allegations.

The magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe, remanded the pair in custody to today.

Appearing for the State, Miss Sharon Mashavira alleged that sometime in February this year Gano misrepresented to various job-seekers that he was employed by Nyaradzo Funeral Services as a manager.

He told the complainants that the company was opening a new branch in Masvingo and was on a recruitment drive for various positions. Gano lied that as a manager he could find the job-seekers employment. He duped them into paying money presumably for the processing of fingerprints and administration. Gano supplied them with a phone number and ordered them to send through EcoCash account.

According to the State, Nyaradzo Funeral Services Company received calls from various people inquiring about the vacancies. Some of them had already been duped by Gano and the company made a report to the police and a trap was set.

One of the victims, who had been asked by Gano to hand over the money in person, went with the police to pay the money.

On reaching the meeting place, they saw Muusha, who had been sent to collect the money by Gano. Muusha was arrested and implicated Gano.