‘Impostors’ duplicate national ID cards

© TWO suspected impostors who duplicated various residential stands owners’ national identity cards before using them to defraud home-seekers have appeared in court.

Victoria Taruvinga, 48, and Phillimon Machekecha, 53, were charged with fraud when they appeared before Harare magistrate Rumbidzayi Mugwagwa.

They were arrested with more than five duplicated national identity cards bearing their pictures.

They were remanded in custody to today for their bail application.
Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti said that on November 25, Taruvinga claimed to be Valerie Colleta Muzonzini and sold a residential stand in Tynwald, Harare.

On December 9, the complainant paid US$13 000 and an agreement of sale was signed at Kanoti and Partners Legal Practitioners.

The offence came to light on December 13, when the complainant received information that Taruvinga was impersonating Muzonzini and filed a police report.

The court further heard that on December 11, Machekecha placed an advertisement in a newspaper purporting to be Peter Boyc Mhlanga, the owner of 6392 Mungate Street, Zimre Park, Ruwa.

He was selling the stand for US$19 000.
He produced a national identity card bearing his picture and the title deed and was given a US$8 000 deposit.
The complainant then set up a meeting with his lawyer and invited Machekecha but he did not turn up, prompting him to commence investigations with Ruwa Local Board.

He discovered that Machekecha was not the actual owner of the property and filed a police report against him.

It was further alleged that on December 19, the duo placed an advertisement in a local daily purporting that they were selling stand number 565 Bluffhill Township 11 of Lot 8A for US$10 500.

The complainant contacted Machekecha and expressed interest in buying the stand. Machekecha claimed to be Chikukwa Pepukai Steven and said he was selling it on behalf of Peddie Mugoba, the owner.

He allegedly demanded US$7 000 payment and the complainant became suspicious and alerted the police.

Machekecha was arrested and fake title deeds and national identity cards for Chikukwa and Mugoba were recovered.