71 charges read out in court for counterfeit cash gang, more expected
HARARE – Two men accused of orchestrating a sophisticated counterfeit currency racket that preyed on online traders across Harare appeared in court this week facing an extraordinary 71 counts of fraud, as prosecutors warned that the scale of the alleged crimes could still widen.
Agrippa Chivhenge, 42, and Edious Rungano, 32, are accused of running a long-running scheme stretching from 2021 to December 2025, during which they allegedly duped victims out of thousands of US dollars’ worth of goods by swapping genuine cash with obsolete Zimbabwean dollar notes during transactions.
The pair was arrested last month following a tip-off that led detectives from CID Braeside to Chivhenge’s residence in New Marlborough, where he allegedly implicated Rungano, resulting in a second arrest in Highlands.
Court documents allege the suspects deliberately targeted people advertising goods on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp, posing as genuine buyers before creating confusion during payments. Prosecutors say the accused would first hand over real US dollar notes for verification, then reclaim them under various pretexts before returning bundles containing phased-out bond notes concealed with a single genuine US$10 or US$20 bill.
The alleged victims include cellphone vendors, poultry farmers, fuel attendants, electronics dealers and service station workers, many of whom lost high-value items such as smartphones, laptops, solar equipment, lithium batteries, deep freezers and bulk consignments of chickens.
Investigators say the suspects used hired vehicles, including Toyota Hilux and Fortuner models, to move across Harare and surrounding areas, allowing them to strike repeatedly while evading detection.
Appearing before Mbare magistrate Denis Mangosi, Chivhenge and Rungano applied for bail, arguing through their lawyer Stead Kachere that they are not flight risks. Kachere also told the court his clients require medical attention following injuries allegedly sustained during their arrest.
The State, represented by Fedel Chihengere, opposed bail and indicated that the matter could be transferred to a regional court due to the seriousness and volume of charges. The defence objected to the proposed transfer.
The bail hearing was postponed to January 6, 2026.
Outside court, dozens of complainants gathered in solidarity, with some confirming they had engaged the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to observe the proceedings, citing fears of interference given the scale of the case.
Police say property recoveries have been limited, but several vehicles and equipment allegedly linked to the offences were seized during the investigation. Authorities warned that additional charges may still be preferred as more victims continue to come forward.
_ZimLive_
