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Genius Kadungure

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
Harare businessman Genius Kadungure, who is facing charges of defrauding two businessmen of more than R1,5 million, was on Saturday remanded in custody. Kadungure (30) appeared in court before Mr Milton Serima charged with fraud. He was remanded to tomorrow for bail ruling after the State led by Mr Michael Reza opposed bail.

In opposing the application, Mr Reza told the court that Kadungure was likely to abscond considering that he has businesses in South Africa and Botswana.

Mr Reza added that Kadungure was a party animal known for throwing parties to which Kadungure’s lawyer Mr Tafadzwa Hungwe objected saying it was irrelevant.

Magistrate Mr Serima asked Mr Reza to clarify the relevance and he said: “Your Worship, the accused person is used to high life and cannot brook the thought of spending even one day in prison therefore given an opportunity, he will flee.”

Kadungure, through his lawyer, told the court that he was a proper candidate for bail. He said that he has been aware of the allegations since 2012 but did not abscond.

He also said that he fully co-operated with the police when he was arrested, adding that he would abide by even the most stringent bail conditions. After hearing submissions from both parties, Mr Serima rolled over the matter to tomorrow.

According to the State, Kadungure swindled ZANU-PF MP for Chegutu West Cde Dexter Nduna, who is the managing director of Badon Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, and a Kadoma-based miner only identified as Gatawa of R1 581 890.

It is alleged that sometime in November 2012, Kadungure in connivance with unknown accomplices created a fictitious company named Transco Civil Engineering purportedly based in South Africa and opened an ABSA account for the company.

He allegedly created an e-mail account named [email protected], pretending to be a legitimate representative of Marange Resources.

He then contacted the complainants over the phone and misrepresented himself as the chief buyer for Marange Resources looking for mining pumps at competitive prices, it is alleged.

The complainants became interested and he referred them to his bogus company, Transco Civil Engineering, in South Africa on the pretext it was a recommended supplier for the pumps.

On December 4, Gatawa sent his brother Enock to South Africa to purchase the pumps. He was ordered to deposit R1 046 890 for the purchase of 10 flight pumps in the ABSA bank account.

After the transfers, Enock was told by Transco Civil Engineering “officials” to go back to Zimbabwe and check for his parcel with DHL in three days time.

On December 12, Gatawa went to DHL, Airport branch to collect the pumps and was shocked to receive a parcel of cellphone chargers. That is when he realised that he had been duped, the court heard.