Zvikomborero Parafini
SHAWASHAGRI (Pvt) Ltd and its director, Lilian Nyamasoka, have been accused of fraud amounting to US$83 000.
Nyamasoka has been released on US$500 bail and was not required to enter a plea when she appeared before Harare magistrate Munashe Chibanda.
The complainant, Sandton Textiles, alleged that they were offered the sale of 100 tonnes of cotton lint in Checheche, Chipinge.
They said the deal ended up as an empty promise as both the accused, Nyamasoka and the company, failed to deliver the cotton following payment.
The accused and accomplices have been accused of giving excuses, forcing a report to be made to the police.
The court heard that on May 17, Sandton Textiles’ managing director, Omega Mugwagwa, was contacted by Nyamasoka, who claimed that she had 100 tonnes of cotton lint for sale in Checheche, Chipinge.
Mugwagwa went to Chipinge where he was directed to Agricultural Value Chain/ Parrogate Checheche.
He agreed to buy 60 tonnes at US$1.45/kg.
The parties verbally agreed that Mugwagwa would pay first before collecting the cotton lint after two days.
The State said on May 24, Mugwagwa, in the company of Kudakwashe Yassin Kutyauripo, went to Nyamasoka’s workplace in Milton Park, Harare.
She was in the company of Tonderai Dhana Nienda and Sarudzai Juliet Njenda, who are still at large.
The parties entered into a written agreement.
On the same day, Mugwagwa is said to have made a cash deposit of US$30 000 and was issued with a receipt.
On May 29 and 31, Kutyauripo made two payments of US$13 500 and US$40 000 on behalf of Mugwagwa and was issued with receipts.
On June 2, Mugwagwa’s truck went to Chipinge to collect the lint, but could not because there were no release instructions from Ecobank Zimbabwe.
Mugwagwa repeatedly contacted Nyamasoka, and her accomplices, asking them to deliver the cotton lint, but they allegedly gave a number of excuses and false promises.
This prompted him to make a report to the police.
Tinashe Maposa appeared for the State.