BY DR MASIMBA MAVAZA The Director-General of Zimbabwe’s Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), Mr. Fulton Mangwanya, has facilitated the arrest of four individuals in South Africa involved in a scam impersonating prominent Zimbabwean figures. According to Mr. Mangwanya, the scammers contacted his farm, posing as employees of Honorable Sakupwanya, and requested accommodation for 18 individuals. They subsequently contacted his daughter and then Mr. Mangwanya himself, claiming to be in South Africa and in need of assistance with currency exchange. Mr. Mangwanya’s team referred the individuals to a contact in South Africa, who was impersonating Honorable Sakupwanya. The scammers then instructed Mr. Mangwanya’s team to make payments into several bank accounts, claiming that Honorable Machakaire would settle the debt. However, when Mr. Mangwanya’s team attempted to verify the transaction with Honorable Machakaire, they discovered that the individuals were impostors. Honourable Sakupwanya and Honorable Machakaire confirmed that they were not involved in the scam and had not authorized the use of their names or profiles. Determined to bring the perpetrators to justice, Mr. Mangwanya’s team, with the assistance of contacts in South Africa, tracked down the individuals and facilitated their arrest. The four suspects have been identified as Blessing Vava, Desmond Mangena, Prince James, and Solomon Jokonya. The amount involved in the scam was approximately US$70,000, contrary to earlier reports of US$1.5 million. Mr. Mangwanya emphasized that he was not a victim of the scam but rather played a crucial role in the arrest of the perpetrators. The incident highlights the growing concern of scams and financial crimes in Zimbabwe and the region. The scammers’ modus operandi involved contacting victims, posing as employees of high-profile individuals, and offering lucrative business deals. They would then request assistance with currency exchange, leading victims to deposit funds into various bank accounts. The scam has affected several top officials and stretched its reach across Southern African states. Thanks to Mr. Mangwanya’s efforts, the scam has been dismantled, and the perpetrators have been brought to justice. Post navigation Cameroon Embraces Inclusive Voting: Blind Citizens Cast Ballots Independently for the First Time Rural Women Rising: Building Resilient Futures Through Empowerment and Innovation