HARARE, March 10 (NewsDay Live) – A 36-year-old suspected con artist, who is facing four counts of fraud and another count of forgery, will learn her fate when she appears before Chiredzi magistrate Tendai Mutamba on Tuesday for judgment.
Brenda Dhaka is facing allegations of selling non-existent residential stands and forging Chiredzi Town Council secretary, Wesley Kauma’s signature to manufacture offer letters, which she used to sell the purported stands.
Dhaka is also facing another charge of defrauding another woman of US$ 4,000 in a botched car deal.
In her previous court appearance last week, she denied all the charges and argued that the testimonies of State witnesses had failed to prove a case against her
It is the State’s case that on September 26, 2023 in Chiredzi, Dhaka alleged connived with one Zivanai Moyo, who is still at large, and misrepresented to Romeo Murhaho that they were selling a residential stand in Melborne Park, Chiredzi, for US$8,000.
Murhaho reportedly paid US$4,000 in cash and transferred US$1,000 into a bank account supplied by Dhaka and Moyo.
The court heard that on another occasion, Murhaho handed Moyo another US$3,000, but was never given any document relating to the piece of land.
It is said that Murhaho demanded to be handed documentation to his stand, but the duo failed.
- Suspected female con artist faces judgment day
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Murhaho then threatened to engage the police, prompting Dhaka to restitute US$2,150, while Moyo paid US$2 500 before disappearing.
Irked by the duo’s failure to pay the difference, Marhaho reported the matter to the police.
On July 12, 2024, Dhaka allegedly approached Violet Chikwadze and misrepresented to her that she was selling a Toyota RunX, which was registered in her name.
Dhaka was reportedly paid US$4,000 cash towards the purchase of the car, but failed to hand it over to Chikwadze.
It is alleged that on September 2, 2024, Dhaka connived with one Saruna Mutonono and used a counterfeit offer letter to sell residential stand number 7360 Makondo Extension, Chiredzi, to Cuthbert Mbanda for US$5,500.
The matter came to light when Mbanda went to Chiredzi Town Council offices intending to get his plan approved and it was discovered that he had a counterfeit offer letter.
It is alleged Dhaka forged the Chiredzi Town Council secretary’s signature to manufacture offer letters.
She would then use them to defraud unsuspecting home-seekers in the farming town.
She is said to have employed Tadiwanashe Musundire to print the fake offer letters, for which she would then forge Kauma's signature.
Dhaka is also alleged to have duped Precious Mungoni, of Triangle, US$ 4,000 after selling her a stand in Makondo Extension and handing her a forged offer letter.
Moreblessing Rusere is appearing for the State.
