Tendai Muererwa
Mutare – Three Mutare men have been arrested for allegedly duping businesses of groceries worth US$12 500 in well calculated scam.
The suspects are Prince Ruvimbo Dhau (31) of Chikanga Phase 2, Pardon Dhau (35) of Chikanga Phase 2, and Dennis Chikotosa (39) of Fern Valley, Mutare.
According to police investigations, the first incident occurred on 9 April 2026 at around midday when the accused persons allegedly contacted Evans Tenha, the Development Manager for Olivine Industries in Mutare, pretending to be genuine customers interested in purchasing groceries in bulk.
Believing the order to be legitimate, Tenha instructed Olivine Industries sales representative Gilbert Mushata (25) to deliver the goods to a shop at St Joseph Business Centre in Mutare. Mushata reportedly met the accused persons at Beit Hall in Sakubva before being led to a shop identified as Bumly Shop at St Joseph, Chikanga. The suspects allegedly claimed ownership of the premises and instructed him to offload 150 boxes of 8×2-litre Olivine cooking oil, 150 boxes of 8×2-litre Pure Drop cooking oil and 50 cartons of Jade bathing soap.
After the goods had been unloaded, the suspects allegedly informed Mushata that the remainder of the consignment was to be delivered to another shop in Dangamvura where payment would be made. One of the accused accompanied him to Dangamvura Complex before disembarking and disappearing without a trace.
When Mushata returned to Bumly Shop, he discovered that the groceries had already been removed, and the remaining suspects had vanished. He was later informed by shop attendants that the goods had been loaded into a white Scania rigid truck with registration number AHF 1356. The matter was reported to ZRP Chikanga, with the value of the goods estimated at US$8 560.
In a second incident on 20 May 2026, the same suspects allegedly targeted Metro Hyper Market in Mutare. They reportedly contacted a sales representative, Stephen Chindudzi (31), pretending to be customers seeking bulk groceries for resale in Odzi.
Acting on the information, Chindudzi met the accused at a bus stop near Zuva Filling Station at Christmas Pass. The suspects allegedly instructed him to offload various grocery items into their vehicle, including 70 bags of 10kg brown sugar, 25 cases of Fizz drinks, 70 bags of 10kg Mega Roller Meal, 40 cases of 12×2-litre D’lite cooking oil, 20 boxes of Munches biscuits, six 5kg packs of Munches biscuits and five boxes of matches.
The accused then allegedly directed Chindudzi to proceed to Odzi, claiming that payment would be made there. Upon arrival at Odzi Business Centre, one of the suspects disembarked, saying he was going to collect money for the goods, before disappearing. Realizing he had been deceived, Chindudzi reported the matter to ZRP Mutare Central. The total value of the groceries allegedly stolen in the second incident was US$4 023.
Investigations gathered momentum on 22 April 2026 when police recovered the white Scania truck, registration number AHF 1356, in Mutare CBD. Investigators established that the vehicle had been hired from Kumbulani Nxusa (47) of Chikanga Phase 2.
A breakthrough came on 29 May 2026 when Prince Ruvimbo Dhau and Pardon Dhau were arrested by detectives from ZRP Mutare Central in connection with another fraud case. During interviews, police say the pair confessed to the two grocery fraud cases and implicated Dennis Chikotosa. The following day, Chikotosa was arrested in Mutare CBD.
Further investigations led police to Shop and Save at Sakubva Bus Terminus on 31 May 2026, where officers recovered part of the stolen groceries. Recovered goods included 31 cases of 12×2-litre D’lite cooking oil, 40 bags of 10kg Huletts brown sugar and 60 bags of Mega Roller Meal. The goods had allegedly been sold to a local buyer, Samuel Gondo (39) of Mazhambe, who produced a receipt during investigations.
The Midweek Watch was told by Police that they also established that a significant portion of the groceries stolen from the first complainant had allegedly been transported to Waterfalls, Harare. This information was reportedly confirmed by truck driver Kumbulani Nxusa, who stated that he had delivered the goods using the hired Scania truck.
Investigators further identified a silver Toyota Axio registration number AEW 1327, belonging to one of the accused persons, as the vehicle allegedly used during the commission of the offences. The complainants reportedly positively identified the vehicle.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the growing sophistication of fraud schemes targeting businesses. By posing as legitimate customers and exploiting trust within commercial transactions, fraudsters can cause substantial financial losses within a short period.
Business leaders have warned that such crimes do not only affect the immediate victims but also undermine confidence in trade and commerce. Companies may be forced to introduce stricter verification procedures, resulting in delays and additional costs for genuine customers.
Manicaland province acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chnyoka urged businesses to verify customer identities, confirm payments before releasing goods and remain vigilant against suspicious transactions.
The three accused persons are expected to appear in court facing fraud-related charges as investigations continue. If proven guilty, the offences represent a calculated scheme that allegedly deprived local businesses of goods worth more than US$12 500 and highlighted the serious economic damage caused by fraud in the community.
