HARARE – Prominent gospel musician Dorcas Vambe who allegedly invoked President Emmerson Mnangagwa while defrauding a man US$16,000, has been set free.
Vambe, popularly known as Mai Dhuterere, was removed from remand by Harare magistrate Tapiwa Banda who said the state will continue by way of summons if it wishes to prosecute her.
Vambe was being charged with fraud and was out on US$100 bail following her arrest in December last year.
Prosecutors alleged that Vambe told Chrispen Magaya, a former Zanu PF candidate in Glen Norah constituency that she could import a Toyota GD6 duty free with the facilitation of Mnangagwa, who allegedly offered the facility as an appreciation for her music.
It was alleged that in September last year Vambe got information that Magaya wanted to purchase a Toyota Hilux GD6 with a budget of US$16,000.
It was further alleged that Vambe conspired with her brother, Kudakwashe, to defraud Magaya.
“The duo teamed up and approached the complainant stating that they had a car sale in Botswana which had vehicles like the one he was looking for and they told him that his budgeted money would purchase two Toyota Hilux GD6 instead of one,” the state charged.
Magaya handed Vambe US$16,000, to which she acknowledged receipt through a commissioned affidavit, committing to deliver two Toyota Hilux GD6 vehicles within two weeks, the prosecution said.
The two allegedly converted the money to their personal use.
The court was informed that Vambe later gave Magaya a Ford Ranger that was not registered in Zimbabwe and bore temporary registration plates.
It is further alleged that the two subsequently agreed that Magaya would take the Ford Ranger and pay an additional fee to receive a Mercedes Benz C200 to compensate for the two GD6 vehicles he was supposed to receive initially.
Magaya, the court heard, relaxed and started to use the Ford Ranger, waiting to receive the promised Mercedes Benz C200. But the Ford Ranger was impounded by the police for being used in Zimbabwe with an expired temporary import permit, leading Magaya to file a police complaint against the singer.
