FAITH NDOU
Masvingo- A 66 year old woman, Ronika Mutema, appeared before Masvingo Magistrate Archie Wochiunga on May 26 facing charges of fraud and theft involving a staggering $684 million in local currency in 2005.
The accused is alleged to have misled prominent business executive Professor Fredrick Kasese (67) into believing she could purchase nine vehicles including six Toyota 3-litre pickups, two tractors, and a T35 truck on his behalf from Care International Masvingo.
The state was represented by Precious Takuva.
According to the State, the transaction dates back to 23 May 2005, when Mutema received $684 from Prof. Kasese but failed to buy the vehicles, instead converting the funds to her personal use.
The complainant, who was Group General Manager at Zvobgo Investments t/a Regency Hotels and Leisure Group at the time, made payments in four installments totaling $684 million, with receipts bearing Care International’s stamp and Mutema’s signature.
Prof. Kasese told the court he first inspected the vehicles at the Care International depot in Masvingo before handing over the money. Mutema had informed him she would seek authorization from the company’s Harare office and later assured him that the sale had been approved.
The matter took a dramatic turn when, Kasese received a letter which the accused brought to him that the initial car collection date 17 September 2005 was changed to 1 October 2005.
On that day, Kasese received a call from Elias Sivenge, who claimed to be Mutema’s brother in the company of Ronika Mutema informing him that the vehicle sale had been cancelled and that he would be refunded his money.
The complainant, however, never recovered the money.
The State further alleged that Mutema disappeared shortly after the transaction, only returning to Zimbabwe in 2007 after reportedly being out of the country.
Attempts to resolve the matter through out-of-court settlements failed.
Mutema was arrested in 2024, it’s nearly 21 years after the initial transaction and is now facing prosecution.
She is represented by lawyer Isabel Moyo of Shumba and Mutendi Legal Practitioners, who told the court that her client had, at some point, offered to return the money but the complainant insisted on interest.
The accused is out of custody.
Magistrate Wochiunga postponed the case for continuation of the trial at a later date.
