Zanu PF boss scams businessman using Auxillia Mnangagwa’s name, SADC summit
Victim lost Land Cruiser worth US$100 000 in fraud scandal involving over US$4 million
By Staff Reporter
Zanu PF finance secretary for Mashonaland East province Timothy Gowo allegedly duped a Harare businessman of over U$$100 000 in a fake vehicle donation invitation to First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Angel of Hope Foundation, a court has been told.
The businessman was named as Andrew Baker.
Prosecutors say Baker lost over US$4 million in multiple fake land sale deals to Gowo, who is jointly charged with accomplices Gerald Saidi (39), Lovemore Majati (35), Nigel Chimbwanda (39) and Nathan Gowoko, aged 33.
In one of the accounts, Gowo allegedly misrepresented to Baker that he had connections to Auxillia’s Angel of Hope Foundation.
He allegedly convinced Baker to donate an ambulance ostensibly for delivery to the first lady’s humanitarian project if he had wishes to be associated with it.
Baker passed on his new Toyota Land Cruiser which was valued at US$100 000.
Unbeknown to Baker, the vehicle was taken to Duli Van car sale along Chiremba Road in Harare where it was sold at US$60 000 with Gowo and accomplices pocketing the harvest.
On the last count, Gowo allegedly sent a fake SADC summit expo invitation letter to Baker and asked him to pay US$7 000 for him to take part.
Zimbabwe hosts the SADC summit this August.
The scam started with the first count in October 2022 when Gowo and his accomplices allegedly misrepresented to Baker that they were selling pieces of land in Marlborough and Kuwadzana, Harare.
They were all remanded in custody to Thursday for bail application.
