Private investigator Tafadzwa Chidawa, commonly referred to as Detective Kedha, was overcome with emotion while testifying in court, prompting the presiding Chief Magistrate, Vongai Muchuchuti Guwuriro, to adjourn the session.
Serious Allegations and Co-Accused Individuals
Detective Kedha is being tried alongside alleged co-conspirators, including Paradza Passmore Matubu, Perseverance Chisango, Malvern Mutanda, and Francis Takura. Notably, Mutanda and Takura are still at large. The case was brought forward by the complainant, Melody Matanhire.
The Fraudulent Scheme
According to court testimonies, Matanhire was deceived into believing that her associate, Mutanda, had access to US$100,000 in defaced banknotes that required a costly chemical cleaning procedure. She was convinced to provide US$20,000 in usable currency, which, when mixed with the chemicals, would supposedly restore the damaged money. In return, she was promised a substantial financial reward.
Under this belief, Matanhire procured the necessary funds and, on August 27, 2020, accompanied Mutanda to Blue Ridge Lodge in Harare, where the alleged restoration process was set to take place. However, what she did not realize was that this entire operation was an elaborate scam orchestrated by Mutanda and his associates, including Chidawa, Takura, Matubu, and Chisango.
The Orchestrated Robbery
Upon arriving at the lodge, Matanhire handed over the US$20,000, which Mutanda placed inside a cooler box, supposedly preparing for the cleaning process. At that moment, Chidawa and his accomplices burst into the room, masquerading as law enforcement officers. They forcefully subdued Mutanda, seized the cooler box containing the cash, and dragged him to a waiting vehicle. Meanwhile, two other individuals held Matanhire captive before eventually setting her free.
Following the heist, the group regrouped and divided the stolen funds among themselves.
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The Aftermath and Investigation
The fraudulent scheme unravelled when Matanhire, in an attempt to account for the missing money to her husband, staged a robbery. However, an investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide led to Mutanda’s arrest. Subsequent inquiries uncovered evidence of illicit purchases made with the stolen funds, leading to the partial recovery of stolen assets.
