Bogus Mnangagwa daughter denied bail
A Tynwald woman who masqueraded as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s daughter and managed to defraud CBZ of US$37 000 plus interest, and also benefitted a gold claim from the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority has been denied bail.
The fake ‘First Daughter’ had been remanded in custody until June 23 facing two counts of fraud. Chikafu was further remanded in custody until July 8th, 2020 after attending a routine remand hearing at Rotten Row Magistrate Court.
The 44-year-old fraudster, Chirambe Chikafu who had four different ID cards and a fake address, says her real name is ‘Chantelle Chikafu Mnangagwa, and claims to be the daughter of the Zimbabwe leader’s elder brother, Partson Mnangagwa.
“According to Police investigations, accused has four IDs she was using including the name Chantelle Mnangagwa. She was also fined $6 000 on a previous conviction in Mount Darwin. She had given the police the address of 4099 Tynwald South in Harare, but she had left those premises three years ago.
Chikafu, who was facing a plethora of civil suits at the High Court, and had filed an urgent application to terminate the gold mining contract with ZimParks, was ambushed and arrested when she visited the ZimParks director-general on the 8th.
The accused, who still contends through her lawyers that she’s actually the president’s niece and Partson Mnangagwa’s daughter, told the court that a miner, John Maungwa caused her arrest, following misunderstandings on boundaries to their gold claims.
“There was a Government facility where youths would get loans during the time of former minister Saviour Kasukuwere.”
She obtained a loan and when she failed to pay the loan an agreement was made with Zimbabwe Asset Management Corporation. Later the loan was paid in full,” she said.
In 2010, Chikafu allegedly approached CBZ and tried to open an account using a defensive driving certificate as an identity.
The bank wanted a real ID and initially declined to let her open the account, but the now remanded female quadragenarian allegedly connived with a CBZ employee Lilian Mateta, who processed the account without the needed ID.
Using the name Chantelle Mnangagwa, Chikafu received a US$2 000 overdraft from the bank. It is the state’s case that in August 2011, the accused was lent another US$15 000 after submitting a Deed of Transfer she allegedly stole from her mother, Grace Chikafu.
On September 12, 2012, she received a US$20 000 loan and failed to repay accruing a US$88 775 debt in the process, including interests.
On November 19, 2019, Chikafu is said to have approached Nyasha Mutyambizi and passed herself as Chantelle Mnangagwa. She allegedly sought an agreement to mine in Umfurudzi Safari Area and tendered a fake ID.
The Parks and Wildlife Management reportedly consented and issued the agreement. With that piece of paper, she approached the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development seeking a special gold mining grant for 200 hectares in the reserved area.
The court also heard that the special grant was granted in December 2019 but it was later discovered that the mine site that was granted to her belonged to a one, John Maungwa.