Zim GBC News | Crimes and Courts
The fraud trial involving Bulawayo Ward One councillor, Josiah Mutangi, and his co-accused, Janet Zhou, has been postponed to 30 September by the Bulawayo provincial magistrates court.
The pair is facing 14 counts of fraud for allegedly collecting US$200 from each of 14 vendors in February 2024, promising to allocate them vending spaces at the busy corner of 5th Avenue and Herbert Chitepo Street.
Presiding magistrate Abednico Ndebele adjourned the case, citing the unavailability of both the trial magistrate and the prosecutor who were away on official business. Mutangi and Zhou, who are both out on US$400 bail, were represented by their lawyer, Constance Mathaba of Makiye and Partners.
Through their legal counsel, the accused persons vehemently denied the charges. Their defence argues that no money was paid directly to them.
“Our clients deny these allegations in the strongest terms,” said lawyer Mathaba.
“The payments in question were made to an association that was tasked with securing the vending bays on behalf of the vendors.”
The defence further claimed that the City of Bulawayo did allocate vending spots to the group, but the offer was rejected.
“Vending places were indeed allocated in the city centre,” Mathaba stated.
“However, the group refused the allocation, stating they were not satisfied with the location, and subsequently demanded refunds. It was after this disagreement that the matter was reported to the police, leading to these charges.”
This legal challenge comes as Councillor Mutangi deals with the aftermath of a separate conviction.
He was recently sentenced to 30 days in prison for repeatedly defying court orders to vacate a farmhouse in Umguza, on the outskirts of Bulawayo.
The case continues on September 30.
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