Gospel singer Dorcas Vambe invoked President Emmerson Mnangagwa while defrauding a man US$16,000, a court heard on Thursday.
Vambe, popularly known as Mai Dhuterere, was not asked to plead to one count of fraud when she appeared before Harare magistrate Isheanesu Matova.
The 36-year-old was released on US$100 bail.
Vambe allegedly told Chrispen Magaya, a former Zanu PF candidate in Glen Norah constituency, that she could import a Toyota GD6 duty free with the facilitation of Mnangagwa, who allegedly offered the facility as an appreciation for her music.
Appearing for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Takudzwa Jambawu said in September this year Vambe got information that Magaya wanted to purchase a Toyota Hilux GD6 with a budget of US$16,000.
It is alleged that Vambe conspired with her brother, Kudakwashe, to defraud Magaya.
“The duo teamed up and approached the complainant stating that they had a car sale in Botswana which had such vehicles that he was looking for and they told him that his budgeted money would purchase two Toyota Hilux GD6 instead of one,” Jambawu charged.
“Accused persons further misrepresented facts to the complainant that they had capacity to import the two vehicles free of duty since they had a duty waiver she was granted by the President of Zimbabwe as appreciation for singing for the country.”
Magaya handed Vambe US$16,000, to which she acknowledged receipt through a commissioned affidavit, committing to deliver two Toyota Hilux GD6 vehicles within two weeks, the prosecution said.
The two allegedly converted the money for their personal use.
The court was informed that Vambe later gave Magaya a Ford Ranger that was not registered in Zimbabwe and bore temporary registration plates.
It is further alleged that the two subsequently agreed that Magaya would take the Ford Ranger and pay an additional fee to receive a Mercedes Benz C200 to compensate for the two GD6 vehicles he was supposed to receive initially.
“The complainant relaxed and started to use the Ford Ranger, waiting to receive the promised Mercedes Benz C200. The Ford Ranger was then impounded by the police for being used in Zimbabwe with an expired temporary import permit. This then caused the complainant to discover the offence leading to the arrest of the accused person who then implicated her brother Kudakwashe, who is still at large,” the prosecution said.
