Zimbabwe’s Deputy Ambassador to Namibia, Catherine Musua, was allegedly defrauded of a car worth US$40,000 by an accountant at Marondera Municipality.
The car belonged to the estate of Deputy Ambassador Musua’s late husband.
Tinashe Mungwena (38) appeared before Harare Regional Magistrate Mr Donald Nderwe, who remanded him in custody until 11 June. No sponsorship problems have arisen since his return from home.
The complainant is Deputy Ambassador Moussua, who works for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
Prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsukoti alleged that sometime in 2022, Deputy Ambassador Musua’s late husband, Never Bessa, acquired a Toyota Fortuner from High Range Land Developers, Harare.
Since 2022, Deputy Ambassador Moussua has been using the car personally after she agreed with her husband that it was her personal car. Later, Mr Bessa allegedly gave Mongwena the car in trust for temporary use.
On March 7, Deputy Ambassador Musua’s husband was involved in a traffic accident in Victoria Falls, which claimed his life. At the time, Mungwena owned the vehicle in question.
Deputy Ambassador Musua then asked Mongwena to return the car because it was part of her late husband’s property. Mungwena allegedly refused to return the car, saying he had bought the car from Mr Bessa on September 8 last year.
He said that he paid the purchase price in part and no sale agreement was concluded because the deal was based on trust because Mr. Bessa was his friend and business colleague. It is alleged that Mongoena took advantage of the death of Deputy Ambassador Musua’s husband and that he was in possession of a car at the time of her husband’s death. This prompted Deputy Ambassador Musua to report the matter to the police in Harare.
On April 20, Mungwena surrendered himself to police at the Harare Vehicle Theft Criminal Investigation Squad, and after being interviewed, it was established that he had handed over the vehicle to ZRP Bulawayo Traffic through his wife, after learning of a reported case. Announce
