A LOCAL textiles company, Sandton Textiles lost US$85 000 to a private company Shawashagri in a botched cotton lint deal.
Shawashagri Private Limited was charged together with its director Lilian Nyamasoka (41) who was yesterday granted US$500 bail by magistrate Munashe Chibanda. Nyamasoka was remanded to November 17 pending trial.
The complainant is represented by Omega Mugwagwa.
Allegations are that on May 17 this year, Mugwagwa was contacted by Nyamasoka and advised that she had 100 tonnes of cotton lint in Checheche, Chipinge which was up for sale. lt is also alleged that on the same date, Mugwagwa went to Checheche where he was directed to Agricultural Value Chain and Parrogate Checheche by Nyamasoka where he inspected the cotton lint.
Mugwagwa reportedly inspected the cotton lint, became interested and notified Nyamasoka who agreed to buy 60 tonnes of cotton lint at US$1,45 per kilogramme to make a total purchase price of US$87 000.
They further verbally agreed that Mugwagwa would pay first before collection and the cotton lint would be delivered ithin two days.
lt is alleged that on May 24, Mugwagwa in the company of Kudakwashe Yassin Kutyauripo went Nyamasoka’s workplace where they met him in the company of Tonderai Dhana Njenda and Sarudzai Juliet Njenda who are still at large.
They reportedly entered into a written agreement before Mugwagwa made a cash deposit of US$30 000 and was issued with a receipt. On May 23 and May 31, 2023, Kutyauripo went to the workplace where she made a payment of US$13 500 and US$40 000, respectively.
- Textiles firm loses US$85K to fraudsters
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lt is further alleged that on June 2, 2023, Mugwagwa’s truck driver went to Checheche, Chipinge to collect the cotton lint but failed to do so because there was no release instructions from Ecobank Zimbabwe authorising release of the cotton lint.
Mugwagwa reportedly made several efforts to have the cotton lint, but was met with excuses and false promises, which prompted him to make a police report.
