A member of the Zimbabwe National Army, Simbarashe Chivandire (27), is in trouble for allegedly conning two young women of $450 after promising to secure employment for them.
BLESSED MHLANGA STAFF REPORTER
Chivandire of the 5th Brigade appeared before resident magistrate Taurai Manwere facing two counts of fraud after allegedly misrepresenting himself as an army recruitment officer to Shella Chavarira and Samatha Ngwenya.
The State alleged that in May 2013, Chivandire, who works for the army intelligence unit, told the two women that he could facilitate their employment in the army if they each paid him $250.
The two were desperate to land jobs in a country where unemployment levels hover around the 80% mark and saw the offer as a golden opportunity to join the army and quickly raised the cash which they handed to Chivandire.
Ngwenya paid $200 to Chivandire through EcoCash while Chavarira paid $250 cash when the three meet at a food court in Kwekwe last year on an undisclosed date.
It was the State’s case that Ngwenya was promised a job as a waiter at the Harare International Airport and would be upgraded to an air hostess.
However, after receiving the cash, it was alleged Chivandire became evasive until the women reported the matter at Battle Fields were the 5th Brigade is headquartered. Chivandire, who is pleading not guilty to the charges, was remanded out of custody to May 28.
