Crime and Courts
Harare Man in Court Over Alleged US$150,000 Corporate Fraud
A Harare resident, Lewis Matutu, appeared in court yesterday after being implicated in a fraud case involving US$150,000 linked to a mining company. Matutu, along with co-accused Blessing Kusangaya, Tafadzwa Kusangaya, Muzimba Muhamba, Chikwasha Muhamba, and Sibanengi Ncube, all pleaded not guilty before Harare regional magistrate Noel Mupeyiwa.
The complainant, Joseph Evurath Sibanda, is a director and shareholder of Shusib Investments Private Limited. According to the State, Sibanda and his relative Lyton Shumba registered the company in 2012 to conduct business in industrial, mining, and domestic hardware sectors. The company was incorporated under registration number 6727/12.
At the time of registration, the firm had two directors — Sibanda and Shumba — and was issued 2,000 ordinary shares. Of these, 1,998 shares were held by the company, with Sibanda and Shumba each holding one fully paid share.
Sibanda later shifted focus to mining and sought exploration rights in the Shamva/Mufurudzi area from the Department of Parks and Wildlife. The department granted permission under the understanding that a 25-year lease would be issued, and it would receive a 15% royalty once operations began.
To support youth empowerment, Sibanda and Shumba brought in young people, including Matutu and his associates, who were subsequently made company directors. A youth-representative company, Pambili Investments Corporation, was also involved and given 240 shares.
Operations began with limestone mining, but as time went on, Sibanda remained the only active party on-site, continuing mine development largely on his own.
The State alleges that in 2018, Matutu and his associates devised a plan to unlawfully acquire shares in Shusib Investments. They allegedly created backdated company records — annual returns from 2014 to 2018 — and forged signatures of both Sibanda and Shumba to reflect changes in the company’s ownership and management structure.
These documents, filed with the Registrar of Companies, allegedly listed Matutu and the others as majority shareholders and directors, despite no official approval from the legitimate stakeholders.
The alleged fraud surfaced on September 30 when Sibanda was contacted by the Department of Parks and Wildlife, which informed him that Matutu had instructed them to halt all mining activities based on an apparent shareholder agreement to sell the claim. The department requested a meeting with a representative from Shusib Investments.
Furthermore, Matutu allegedly used the fraudulently obtained shares to attend an Annual General Meeting on November 19, where he is said to have removed Sibanda from the company’s directorship and changed its official address.
Sibanda claims he suffered financial losses amounting to US$150,000 due to these actions.
In court, the accused denied any wrongdoing, asserting that no forgeries were made and that they are legitimate directors of Shusib Investments, except for Ncube, who they said serves as company secretary.
The trial is scheduled to continue today.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched a massive manhunt for an 83-year-old Shurugwi man who fled after DNA results confirmed he fathered twins with his 17-year-old mentally ill granddaughter.
The suspect, Jairos Musekiwa, of Mavhumashava plots, Zhaugwe, is now a wanted fugitive after skipping bail following a series of heinous attacks that have left the Shurugwi community in shock.
The victim, who lives with a mental disability, was just 15 years old when the abuse began. According to police reports, Musekiwa took advantage of a period in April 2024 when the girl’s grandmother had traveled to Gweru to attend a funeral.
Left alone with the vulnerable teenager, Musekiwa allegedly raped her repeatedly. To ensure her silence, the octogenarian reportedly used threats of physical violence, warning the girl that he would beat her if she ever disclosed the ordeal.
The DNA “Smoking Gun”
The crime remained hidden until October 2024, when an observant aunt noticed changes in the girl’s physical appearance. A pregnancy test at a local clinic returned a positive result, and on December 17, 2024, the teenager gave birth to twins.
As part of the criminal investigation, police ordered DNA testing for the infants. The results provided irrefutable evidence: Jairos Musekiwa was the biological father.
A Fugitive from Justice
Despite the gravity of the charges and the scientific evidence against him, Musekiwa was granted bail by the Gweru Regional Court on December 18, 2025. Following his release, the suspect vanished, failing to appear for subsequent court dates.
Midlands Provincial Police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, confirmed that Musekiwa is now a wanted man and appealed to the public for information.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police in Midlands Province is appealing for assistance from the public to locate and arrest an 83-year-old man… wanted in connection with a case of rape of a mentally ill juvenile,” Inspector Mahoko stated.
The ZRP is urging anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Jairos Musekiwa to report to the nearest police station. The case has reignited debates regarding the safety of mentally ill persons and the criteria used for granting bail in high-profile sexual assault cases involving minors.
Crime and Courts
Harare Deputy Mayor and Former MP arrested in Land Fraud scandal
Harare deputy mayor, Councillor Rosemary Muronda and former Harare South Member of Parliament, have been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission following the allegations of land fraud.
Wilma Mavhengere
Harare deputy mayor, Councillor Rosemary Muronda and former Harare South Member of Parliament, have been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission following the allegations of land fraud.
This was confirmed in a statement by ZACC yesterday.
ZACC dismissed yesterday’s swirling rumours that Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume had been arrested, clarifying he was only invited for questioning and later released.
In an interview yesterday, ZACC Commissioner Kindness Paradza also confirmed the arrests.
“Yes, we arrested Mashayamombe, but as for the mayor, we only invited him for questioning.
This means the mayor, at this stage, is not under arrest. Having said that, investigations are currently in progress,” he said.
Mashayamombe is being charged with fraud, whilst Councillor Muronda has been arrested on allegations of criminal abuse of office.
The arrests are linked to a suspected fraud ring that allegedly sold City of Harare land, dragging several top council officials into the scandal.
Comm Paradza added that two senior City of Harare officials tied to the case remain at large, though investigators are tightening the net around them.
Councillor Muronda and Mashayamombe are set to appear in court shortly.
Crime and Courts
Chiredzi West Member of Parliament Darlington Chiwa granted $200 bail.
Chiredzi West, Member of Parliament, Darlington Chiwa, who is facing charges of allegedly embezzling Constituency Development Funds, has been granted bail of US$200 or 50 000 in ZiG currency.
Wilma Mavhengere
Chiredzi West, Member of Parliament, Darlington Chiwa, who is facing charges of allegedly embezzling Constituency Development Funds, has been granted bail of US$200 or 50 000 in ZiG currency.
Chiwa has been granted bail on the conditions that he must surrender the title deeds to his house as surety and hand over his passport pending trial.
The State had denied his release because he was likely to interfere with State witnesses. However, the court granted bail and warned the legislator not to interfere with any of the witnesses.
The legislator is charged with misappropriating funds meant for community development projects, allegedly spending the money on personal expenses, including beer, shoes, groceries and building materials.
According to the allegations, Chiwa, in his capacity as chairperson of the Chiredzi West Constituency Development Funds committee, manipulated other committee members who were signatories to the constituency account, compelling them to relinquish their responsibilities so that he became the sole signatory.
It is further alleged that after the Parliament of Zimbabwe disbursed the CDF funds, Chiwa diverted most of the money for personal use, channelling only about ZiG$270 000 towards community projects while allegedly squandering approximately ZiG$900 000.
The matter is still before the courts, and Chiwa will be back in court on the 19th February.
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