By BLESSING MASAKADZA
A HARARE woman found herself in court accused of misrepresenting that Zimbabwean Vice-president Constantino Chiwenga was to host a dinner dance for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s endorsement as Zanu PF presidential candidate for next year’s polls.
Joyce Marufu, 40, was not asked to plead to fraud allegations when she appeared before Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda at the weekend.
She was remanded out of custody on $50 000 bail.
It is the State’s case that on August 4, Marufu, who is a member of Hardliners Prestigious Club (HPC), placed an advertisement on social media misrepresenting to the public that on September 20, Chiwenga will host a dinner dance to fundraise for an event called ED Mnangagwa Hardliners Endorsement Launch at the Harare International Conference Centre, knowing that there is no such event.
Claims are that she went on to sell admission tickets for the purported event for US$250, US$500 and US$1 000, representing three categories, silver, gold and platinum.
On the same date, it is alleged that she attempted to sell a “silver” ticket for US$250 to Samatha Moyo, who alerted the police.
A trap was set leading to her arrest and the court heard that investigations have established that ED Mnangagwa Hardliners Endorsement Launch does not exist.
The State says they have evidence against her, including the trap money which was recovered from her and the ticket and a receipt which also acted as an invitation letter for the
event which were given to Moyo.
Pardon Dziva appeared for the State. – Daily News