Zim GBC News | Crimes and Courts
HARARE – A warrant of arrest has been issued for socialite Admire Mushambi, popularly known as Mama Vee, after he failed to appear as a witness in the high-profile E-Creator fraud case at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Magistrate Francis Mapfumo issued the order following Mama Vee’s no-show in the trial of Zhao Jiaotong, the alleged mastermind behind the scheme accused of defrauding more than 670 investors of over US$364,000.
The State alleges that Zhao used the social media influence of personalities like Mama Vee and Cleopatra Tarisai Munetsiwa, known as “Madam Boss,” to advertise the scheme and lure unsuspecting members of the public.
Appearing as a witness, Madam Boss testified and distanced herself from the scam, stating that she was introduced to the company by Mama Vee.
“We were approached by Mama Vee who told us that E-Creator was looking for people to advertise for them,” Madam Boss told the court.
She explained that after a visit to the company’s offices with her manager, they believed the operation was legitimate and proceeded with a paid Facebook Live promotion for which they received US$700.
During cross-examination, Madam Boss acknowledged that people invested in the scheme after seeing her advertisement but maintained she was merely performing a professional task. She also revealed that she was a victim of the scheme herself, losing US$100 personally and a further US$200 that she had given to her husband, aunt, and maid to invest.
According to the State’s case, between January and July 2023, hundreds of complainants invested a combined US$364,647.30 into E-Creator. The scheme collapsed in early July 2023 when investors could not withdraw their funds, with the company later announcing it was shutting down after Zhao had allegedly fled the country with the money.
The matter has been remanded to October 20, 2025, for continuation of the trial.
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