The CID Braeside unit has arrested five individuals in connection with a fraud case involving Itai Chitimbe, a 43-year-old businessman from Avondale, Harare. The suspects—Kudzaishe Chakanyuka (41), Wadzanai Munemo (31), Blessing Chigadure (36), Brendon Sithole (29), and Joseph Sigauke (49)—are accused of conspiring to defraud Chitimbe in August 2024.
According to police, Chakanyuka obtained a counterfeit national ID containing Chitimbe’s personal information but featuring Munemo’s photograph. On August 7, Munemo used this fake ID to request a SIM card replacement for Chitimbe’s Econet number, which resulted in Chitimbe losing access to his mobile communication.
The suspects then traveled to Chitimbe’s business premises, with Chigadure driving. Using the stolen phone number, Munemo contacted Chitimbe’s brother, impersonating him and instructing him to hand over $8,000 in cash to Sithole. Unaware of the scam, Chitimbe’s brother complied.
Detectives arrested the group on August 30 after receiving information about their fraudulent activities. The total amount stolen in this scheme was $8,000.