Pretoria – Trevor Simbarashe Mbizvo, a prominent Zimbabwean businessman known as “Hell Commander,” is facing serious charges of rape and fraud following allegations that he falsified his HIV medical certificate and knowingly exposed his South African girlfriend, Laisy Ramokone, to the virus. Mbizvo is scheduled to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on 7 November.
The details of the case are laid out in an extract from Ramokone’s upcoming autobiography, Love, Ego and Hitman, set for release next year. Ramokone recounts how she and Mbizvo, known for flaunting his luxury vehicles on social media, agreed to undergo HIV and STI testing before embarking on a planned vacation.
Ramokone’s tests came back negative. However, Mbizvo sent her a photograph of an HIV certificate showing a non-reactive status, dated 12 January 2021, but allegedly created on 13 January 2021.
Ramokone immediately questioned the certificate’s authenticity. “Later in the evening, he sent me a photo of an HIV certificate with a non-reactive status and HIV 20 on 13 January 2021, while the report had been dated 12 January 2021. I sent him a Whatsapp message and I calmly objected to the certificate, saying it did not look legit.
Stunned by this act of desperation on his side, I felt the need to pick up a phone and call and ask one of the doctors I knew and trusted to compare our results. That doctor told me right away the certificate was not legit and that in 2021, they no longer tested HIV-1 but HIV Elisa 1 and Hiv-elisa 2 antibodies.”
When confronted, Mbizvo initially insisted the certificate was genuine. Only when Ramokone threatened to cancel their trip did he admit to having a police officer friend fabricate the document. He then suggested they retest before their Hoedspruit vacation. Despite this, the couple proceeded to the Limpopo town, enjoying lavish accommodation and expensive meals.
“They did the tests and proceeded, without the results, to the small town, where they stayed in lodges costing thousands of rands a night. Ramokone said while on vacation, they drowned in expensive champagne and wolfed down sumptuous meals before returning to Gauteng after two days without shagging.”
Upon their return, Ramokone insisted on seeing Mbizvo’s test results. After several delays, he claimed to have forgotten them. They subsequently engaged in unprotected sex, with Ramokone later realising that Mbizvo had removed the condom. Following this incident, Mbizvo became unreachable.
Ramokone subsequently started antiretroviral medication to prevent potential HIV infection and reported the matter to the Wierdabrug Police Station in Centurion. She later faced further harassment, including multiple shooting incidents, which she believes were attempts to silence her. She says after opening the case, she was shot at several times by men she suspects wanted to take her out to stop her from continuing with the case.
She sustained facial injuries during one attack and was hospitalised. She also alleges that her phone was hacked and listening devices installed in her home. “Listening devices were installed, and drones were seen flying over my house,” she stated.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), through spokesperson Lumka Mohajana, confirmed the charges against Mbizvo. The state intends to argue that Ramokone did not consent to unprotected sex, hence the rape charge. Mbizvo had previously attempted to have the charges dismissed through representations to the NDPP, but these were rejected.
Mbizvo’s name has been in the headlines before, notably for his tumultuous relationship with socialite Shaleen Nullens popularly known as Ms Shally, former manager of the late Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure.
In 2021, Ms Shally ended their relationship following an incident of infidelity. While Mbizvo initially apologised and gifted her a Range Rover, Ms Shally later posted on Instagram, stating that she had decided to dump the rich businessman.
“I’m just gonna do me. For the past few weeks, I took time to reflect. Love it’s a very beautiful thing and what Simbarashe aka ‘The Hell Commander’ and I shared in the beginning was Heaven sent. When dealing with an Alpha male with different opinions and views from yourself you will realise you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” she said in a seeming reference to his infidelity.
