BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe — Three people have appeared in a Bulawayo court on charges of fraud and money laundering after allegedly siphoning $34,500 meant for the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s exhibition stand at the Harare Agricultural Show.
The accused are Rubbie Chinanai, 54, and Ashel Chinanai, 35, both from Cowdray Park in Bulawayo, and Tichawanda Kevin Chinyande, 31, from Southview in Harare, the National Prosecuting Authority said in a statement.
Prosecutors said the Reserve Bank had contracted Kutting Edge Events to build its exhibition stand for $34,500, to be paid in two installments. The accused and accomplices allegedly hacked into the contractor’s email system and altered banking details, leading the central bank to mistakenly transfer two payments of $17,250 each into Rubbie Chinanai’s Stanbic Bank account in late August and early September.
Investigations showed the money was laundered through multiple withdrawals and transfers. Prosecutors said Rubbie transferred $6,500 to Ashel’s NMB account, which she partly withdrew and partly deposited into Chinyande’s ZB account on instructions from another suspect, Anold Kasasa, who remains at large. Authorities said $6,500 was also sent via Mukuru to a South African contact, while Ashel received a $250 commission.
The Bulawayo Regional Court granted bail on condition that each accused deposits $150, reports to police weekly, and refrains from interfering with witnesses. Chinyande was also ordered to surrender his passport. The case was remanded to Sept. 30.
“Cyber-enabled fraud and money laundering are growing threats that undermine trust in financial systems. Those who abuse technology to siphon public funds will be prosecuted,” the NPA said.
