Gospel singer Machanic Manyeruke was recently scammed out of two of his vehicles worth $16,500 by fraudsters posing as police officers and politicians.
The 82-year-old musician had planned a retirement gala for November last year to mark the end of his five-decade long career.
A man named Ezra Manzvidza approached Manyeruke offering to help with the gala plans. Manyeruke mentioned his Nissan Patrol needed repairs. Manzvidza said the car was needed for servicing at CMED and Manyeruke handed it over along with the keys and registration documents.
In February, another man calling from 0773 554 307 said he needed a vehicle to transport $97,000 from Marondera. Manyeruke gave him his Honda CRV.
When Manyeruke later tried to recover his vehicles, the phone numbers were not reachable. He then saw his Nissan Patrol parked at Parliament and reported the matter to police, leading to the arrest of Reginald Chida. Manzvidza was later arrested in Marondera on May 17 and both vehicles were recovered.
Chida, 37, and Manzvidza, 23 ,appeared in court charged with fraud and were remanded in custody. The vehicles are with police.
