Zvikomborero Parafini
BONLUCK Bus and Coach (Pvt) Ltd managing director Gerald Mambwere and his company have been implicated in a fraud storm after he allegedly received payments for spare parts from a client and failed to deliver the consignment.
Mambwere appeared on his behalf and on behalf of his company before Harare magistrate Isheanesu Matova.
The complainant is Mash Restoration Panel Beaters (Pvt) Ltd, represented by Willard Mashapure.
The court heard that in March last year Mashapure, who runs a panel beating workshop in Bulawayo, wanted some parts for a bus he wanted to repair. He approached Mambwere who misrepresented to him that his company had the capacity to import parts from China.
Mambwere charged Mashapure US$24 000 for the parts. He promised to deliver the parts within 45 days.
After the 45 days lapsed, Mashapure made a follow-up for his spares but Mambwere became evasive and kept on dodging his client for almost a year until a report was filed to the police.
Upon arrest, Mambwere had no record or proof that he paid the money for the spares in China and could not also give a reasonable explanation on how he made the payment.
Nothing was recovered.
Rufaro Chonzi appeared for the State.