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Ivan Zhakata Herald Correspondent
A Harare couple was yesterday apprehended after a Chitungwiza car dealer whom they allegedly duped US$9 000 in a botched car deal identified them.

The couple Shepherd Kavarega and his wife Wendy Kadowonda of Lochinvar were caught in the capital’s central business district (CBD) where they were reportedly planning to flee to Malawi with a DAF 15-ton lorry which they bought from Phillip Mukeyani.

When The Herald arrived at the scene the couple was being manhandled by Mr Mukeyani and his colleagues after they received a tip off of where the couple was before they went to intercept them.

Mr Mukeyani told The Herald that the couple had been playing hide and seek after he gave them the truck in good faith.

“I sold this couple my truck for US$18 000 in February this year and they paid US$9 000. We then agreed that they would finish the remaining balance within three months and failure to pay would result in us confiscating the vehicle at our car sale in Chitungwiza for safe keeping until they clear the balance.

“After three months, the couple became evasive and I tried to reach out to them and all I got were insults from Kadowonda. She said she was in quarantine and would not be able to give me back my money. Her husband was always telling me different stories and the couple refused to see me in person,” he said.

Mr Mukeyani said he had to engage an independent person to pretend as if he wanted to hire the truck in order to find its location.

According to their agreement of sale the two had agreed that Mr Mukeyani would take back the car three months should the couple fail to pay the balance.

“I Phillip Mukeyani, director of the above company (Mukeyani Transport) has agreed to sell our DAF C.F truck with the amount of $18 000 US dollars. Deposit of $9 000 into the LSST Acc. Failure to finish balance in 3 months’ time, bring the vehicle back to the yard,” reads the agreement of sale.

Kadowonda said they did not refuse to finish the remaining balance but they were facing hard times to bring the money together.

“We were on good terms with Phillip but I do not know what is wrong with him today. I told him that I used some of the money to repair the truck before I got ill and I used some of the money for medication but I will give him his remaining balance,” she said.

Mr Mukeyani took the truck to his car sale for safe keeping until the couple finished the remaining balance.