A 33-year-old Chitungwiza man allegedly pretended to be a pastor with supernatural healing powers before conning a United Kingdom-based woman out of US$25,900.
Kelvin Nyamhika appeared before Harare magistrate Jacqueline Gara facing fraud charges. He pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody pending sentencing.
The complainant, Mildred Zvimbvatu, is based in the UK.
The court heard that Nyamhika allegedly created a second Econet mobile line registered under the name Exter Kambalame and used it to impersonate a pastor identified as Mugoriwe from a church called City of Truth.
According to prosecutor Kanchelskis Ropi, Nyamhika knew Zvimbvatu through her son, Tinashe Zvimbvatu, 32. The two reportedly became friends in 2023 after communicating through WhatsApp.
Zvimbvatu allegedly shared some of her personal and family difficulties with Nyamhika, and the pair remained in contact even after she moved to the UK.
The court heard that Nyamhika allegedly exploited the relationship by claiming he could connect her with a pastor who possessed spiritual powers to heal her daughter, who was suffering from cancer.
He allegedly told Zvimbvatu that he had identified problems affecting her family through the “realm of the Holy Spirit” and instructed her to send money towards prayers and spiritual interventions.
Zvimbvatu subsequently sent several payments to Nyamhika’s EcoCash account through WorldRemit. The payments reportedly totalled US$15,900.
However, Nyamhika allegedly continued requesting additional money for the purported spiritual services.
The court further heard that he later claimed to have connections at the United Kingdom Embassy and offered to assist Zvimbvatu in obtaining visa documentation for her daughter and grandchild.
He allegedly demanded US$10,000 for the service.
Zvimbvatu reportedly sent US$6,250 to Nyamhika through WorldRemit, while her aunt, Babra Mugandani, who is based in the United States, allegedly transferred the remaining US$3,750.
After receiving the money, Nyamhika allegedly became unreachable and eventually blocked Zvimbvatu on social media.
It was then that Zvimbvatu realised she had allegedly been duped and reported the matter to the police.
Investigators subsequently obtained a search and seizure warrant and approached Econet Wireless for information relating to the mobile number used in the alleged scam.
The telecommunications company reportedly supplied police with Nyamhika’s personal details and call records, which allegedly helped investigators identify him.
The total amount allegedly lost was US$25,900, and the court heard that none of the money had been recovered.