Trio arrested for ‘chadonha’ trickery theft, linked to multiple cases
Three women, Fransisca Zhanda, Sylvia Gondo, and Emilia Muriva, who gained notoriety after a video of them stealing from a 22-year-old woman using the ‘chadonha’ trickery went viral on social media, appeared in court yesterday. The women have also been connected to five other similar cases from last year. They will remain in custody until their bail hearing scheduled for tomorrow.
According to court proceedings, on January 20, the victim, Ropafadzo Mauruka, noticed what appeared to be a bundle of money at the corner of Nelson Mandela and Mbuya Nehanda Street. The trio approached her and suggested that they share the money equally.
Muriva then entered a nearby shop under the pretence of counting the money and returned claiming it amounted to US$720. She convinced Ropafadzo to hand over her money and belongings so that she could divide the money in the shop. Ropafadzo handed over US$267 and her cellphone and received a bundle wrapped in a sock.
Upon inspecting the bundle outside the shop, Ropafadzo discovered that she had been given papers instead of money. The trio had vanished from the scene. Fortunately, Tafadzwa Chidawa, who witnessed the incident and recorded it, assisted Ropafadzo in recovering her cash and cellphone.
In another case from December 9 of the previous year, the trio employed the same modus operandi and targeted Lynette Nyamaropa from Zengeza. Nyamaropa lost her cellphone and US$80 in that incident.
Ellen Rukweza from New Mabvuku also fell victim to the trio, losing her wallet containing US$200.
The arrest of the three women sheds light on their involvement in multiple cases of theft using the ‘chadonha’ trickery method.
