Two Chinhoyi councillors narrowly avoided jail after they were convicted for insulting a woman in a WhatsApp group, a case that underscores the growing legal consequences of online harassment in Zimbabwe.

Councillors Ruth Chikukwa and Jacqueline Zenda were charged under the Cyber Security and Data Protection Act after their offensive messages targeted a woman named Linda Sauramba.

Although the court found them guilty, they managed to avoid a three-month jail term by paying a US$350 fine each.

The matter dates back to 17 November, when Chikukwa sent an insulting message about Sauramba in a WhatsApp group.

Zenda later added to the attack, calling Sauramba a “prostitute” and accusing her of failing to take advantage of opportunities in her life.

Feeling threatened and humiliated, Sauramba reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest and prosecution of the two councillors.

The court ruled that their conduct was unlawful, stressing that digital platforms are not exempt from legal accountability.

Had they failed to pay the fines, both women would have been jailed a development that would have marked one of Zimbabwe’s earliest imprisonments for social media-related abuse.

A 29-year-old Zimbabwean national, Vecco Lupa, also known as Evans Sivechere, is facing serious fraud charges in Botswana. Lupa, the director of Diamond Migration (PTY) Ltd, is accused of defrauding 11 people of more than P240,000 (US$17,800) through fake overseas job offers and fake work permits.

Attempt to Downgrade Case to Civil Matter Fails

A well-known socialite reportedly arranged a lawyer to represent Lupa. The lawyer appeared in court and tried to argue that the matter should be treated as a civil dispute, not a criminal case.

However, Botswana prosecutors rejected the request, stating that they already have strong evidence pointing to deliberate fraud. The lawyer was also unaware of several complaints already collected by investigators.

Police Evidence Strengthens Fraud Charges

Prosecutors told the defence team that the case could not be transferred to a civil court due to the nature of the allegations.

When police asked Lupa to provide the name of anyone he had successfully processed a visa for, he mentioned only one woman from his WhatsApp groups.
She was called in for questioning and confirmed that she never received any visa. She went on to file her own police report and presented a Serbian work permit that Lupa had given her.

Investigations later confirmed that:

The Serbian permit was fake

Serbia has not been issuing work permits to Zimbabweans or Botswana nationals for some time

The fake document has been added to the official evidence in the case

Key Witness: Kelly’s Cooperation

A Botswana citizen known as Kelly, who had assisted Lupa in opening another Diamond Migration branch in Botswana, has become a key witness.
Although she was the first to be arrested, she secured an agreement with the police to help them track down the main suspect.

Police instructed her to continue communicating with Lupa. She told him that new clients wanted to travel to Ireland but she could not deposit their money because she believed his bank account was being monitored due to earlier fraud allegations.

How Lupa Was Arrested

After hearing that money was waiting for him in Botswana, Lupa flew into the country. Police arrested him immediately upon arrival at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.

Current Status of the Case

The matter has been postponed to 15 December.
Lupa’s lawyer is reportedly shocked by the number of allegations and has asked for more time to prepare the defence. Police have also seized all documents and stationery from Lupa’s office, which are now part of the evidence.

Union Energy Zimbabwe has been hauled before the courts on allegations of money laundering involving US$363,173.

The company, represented by employee Perseverance Masoja Tigere, appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court on Saturday.

The firm is also facing separate charges of contravening the Exchange Control Act after allegedly making unauthorised offshore payments.

According to the State, the case stems from an operation launched on November 28 by detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Asset Forfeiture Unit.

Dubbed Operation Pressure Valve, the initiative targeted fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) retail sites across the capital.

Its objective was to verify sources of funding, check for pricing irregularities, track courier-linked transactions, scrutinise banking patterns and ensure compliance with licensing requirements as part of efforts to dismantle money-laundering and courier networks.

During the same day’s inspections, detectives visited Union Energy Zimbabwe’s premises in the Msasa industrial area. Investigators discovered that the company was importing lubricants, prompting further scrutiny.

Preliminary findings indicated that between June and November 28 this year, the company imported lubricants from a Chinese supplier valued at US$363,173.

However, prosecutors allege that Union Energy failed to provide documents proving the imports were processed through the formal banking system.

The State further contends that the company made offshore payments for the consignments without the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s approval, in violation of exchange control regulations.

Officers say the source of the funds used for the payments could not be verified, intensifying suspicions of illicit financial activity.

No assets have been recovered to date. The matter is expected to continue as investigations proceed.