Two men who impersonated Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) commissioners and orchestrated an elaborate extortion scheme targeting high-profile figures have been sentenced to prison, bringing a close to one of the most audacious fraud cases in recent years. The case involved threats, fake investigations, and the demand for large sums of money from unsuspecting victims under the pretext of quashing alleged corruption or criminal cases.
Felix Rimaunga and Brian Nyazamba were each handed eight-year prison sentences by Harare Regional Magistrate Taurai Manuwere following a full trial. Of the eight years, four were suspended on condition of good behaviour, while a further two-and-a-half years were suspended contingent on restitution to some of their victims. The remaining one-and-a-half years of their sentences are to be served immediately. The men operated alongside accomplices, Fortune Torima and Jacob Kuzinya, who remain at large, prompting ongoing investigations to bring them to justice.
According to Harare regional prosecutor-in-charge Gossy Mudambu, the duo employed a systematic approach to extortion. Nyazamba was primarily responsible for researching and profiling prominent individuals, gathering sensitive personal and professional information that would be used to intimidate victims. This information was relayed to Rimaunga and Torima, who then directed Kuzinya to fabricate official-looking documents and open fraudulent bank accounts to facilitate the scheme.
‘ZACC’ Commissioners jailed for high-profile extortion ring
The fraudsters would call their targets, posing as ZACC officials investigating corruption or criminal misconduct. Victims were threatened with arrest, prosecution, or public exposure unless they paid substantial sums to “destroy dockets.” In one notable case, former Harare Mayor Elias Mudzuri was told he was implicated in a murder investigation and demanded to pay US$2,000 to avoid arrest. Suspicious of the claims, Mudzuri consulted his lawyer and later confirmed with ZACC that no such case existed.
Dr Simba Makoni, a former presidential candidate and politician, faced a similar ordeal. He was informed that he was under investigation for violating Exchange Control Regulations and instructed to deposit Z$1 million into a CBZ Bank account purportedly belonging to an individual named “Talent Murape,” a fictitious identity created by the fraudsters. Dr Makoni, like other victims, realized the scheme was a sham after seeking verification from official sources.
Other high-profile targets included NetOne chief executive Raphael Mushanawani, who was threatened with exposure on social media unless he paid 10 percent of the value of assets allegedly misappropriated by a company cashier. Africawide Zimbabwe CEO Douglas Chiimba was pressured to pay US$1,000, while Harare-based medical practitioner Dr Guzha was falsely accused of sexually assaulting a patient and coerced to pay a similar sum to avoid fabricated consequences.
Even institutions were not spared. The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe’s official Cassius Gambinga received threats from one of the impostors, who claimed to be ZACC Commissioner Chimbwanda and demanded US$1,400 and Z$5,000 to “resolve” fictitious corruption cases. Similarly, Chiratidzo Dzama, the City of Harare district officer for Mufakose, was targeted by a fraudster posing as Commissioner Gwangwadza, who claimed anonymous letters accused her of corruption. Dzama was instructed to pay US$900 or Z$90,000 via EcoCash to prevent escalation.
The scheme unraveled after multiple victims reported the suspicious demands directly to ZACC. Investigations confirmed that Rimaunga, Nyazamba, and their accomplices had no affiliation with the commission, exposing the full scale of the impersonation and extortion network.
Rimaunga and Nyazamba’s conviction is viewed as a significant milestone in addressing white-collar crime, particularly targeting the abuse of authority and manipulation of public figures. It sends a strong message about accountability and the rule of law, underscoring that no one, regardless of social or political status, is immune from fraudsters’ schemes.
While the sentencing brings relief to victims and the public, authorities continue to pursue Torima and Kuzinya, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Law enforcement agencies have vowed to track down and prosecute the remaining members of the extortion ring to ensure full justice is served and to deter similar crimes in the future.
The case highlights the need for vigilance among high-profile individuals and institutions against sophisticated fraud schemes that exploit positions of power and public trust. It also demonstrates the importance of rapid reporting to law enforcement agencies when faced with suspicious threats, reinforcing a collaborative approach to preventing fraud and safeguarding the integrity of Zimbabwe’s governance structures.
Rimaunga and Nyazamba’s imprisonment marks the closure of one of the most audacious fraud schemes targeting public and private figures in Zimbabwe, offering a cautionary tale about the dangers of impersonation and the consequences of attempting to exploit trust for financial gain.
Source- Byo24
