Bulawayo fraud case, Zimbabwe fraudster jailed, inmate relatives scam, prison officer impersonation, fake prosecutor Zimbabwe, EcoCash fraud case, Tawanda Moyo case, Bulawayo court news, fraud conviction Zimbabwe, criminal justice scam, Zimbabwe crime news, Anti-Corruption Unit arrest, fraud targeting families, remand inmate scam, court sentencing Zimbabwe, financial fraud Zimbabwe, identity fraud case, Zimbabwe legal news, scam investigation Bulawayo, police arrest Zimbabwe, court case update, fraud charges Zimbabwe, repeat offender Zimbabwe, prison scam case, Bulawayo magistrates court, justice system abuse, fraud victims Zimbabwe, mobile money fraud, criminal sentencing Zimbabwe, fraud scheme Zimbabwe. Moyo posed as a prosecutor and prison officer to scam families. He used false identities and collected money through EcoCash. He has been sentenced to an effective 34 months in prison.
A Bulawayo man who posed as a public prosecutor and prison officer to defraud relatives of inmates has been convicted and sentenced to an effective 34 months in prison. Tawanda Moyo, who also used the name Tawanda Siziba, appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Mr Isheunesu Mathoba facing six counts of fraud and pleaded guilty.
The court sentenced Moyo to six months on each count, bringing the total to 36 months. Five months were suspended on condition that he restitutes one of the complainants, while three months from a previous suspended sentence were activated, resulting in an effective 34-month jail term.
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In aggravation, Principal Prosecutor Mr Milton Moyo said the accused targeted vulnerable people. “He targeted desperate relatives of inmates and told them he had strong connections with the District Public Prosecutor, the judiciary system and prison service. By doing so, he put the name of the criminal justice system into disrepute,” he said.
The court heard that Moyo exploited relatives of inmates on remand by falsely claiming he could secure their release in exchange for money. He used different identities and created the impression that he worked within the justice system.
On November 21, 2024, at Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court, Moyo approached Ms Sibusisiwe Mutambo and offered to assist in the release of her husband. He demanded US$120, which she sent via EcoCash. After receiving the money, he became evasive, leading her to report the matter to police.
In another incident on February 19, 2025, Moyo contacted Master Ngwenya, claiming to be a public prosecutor handling the case of his sons. He requested US$215 in instalments to facilitate their release. After receiving the money, he demanded more and later became unreachable. Ngwenya later confirmed at the court that Moyo was not a prosecutor and filed a police report.
The court also heard that on July 1, 2024, Moyo approached Ms Senzo Ngwenya outside Bulawayo Prison and claimed to be a prison officer. He demanded US$174, allegedly for the public prosecutor and clerk of court. The money was sent, but no release followed.
In a separate case, Moyo approached Distance Ncube on November 21, 2024, offering to assist with the release of an inmate. He provided two phone numbers he claimed belonged to a magistrate and a prosecutor. Ncube sent US$250, after which Moyo switched off his phone and disappeared.
The court was told that Moyo had a previous conviction. In January 2023, he was arrested at Mzilikazi Police Station for theft of trust property under the name Tawanda Siziba and later appeared in court in February 2023.
The current offences came to light last Tuesday when detectives from the Police Anti-Corruption Unit arrested Moyo and searched his room. Police recovered documents, including a court subpoena in the name Tawanda Siziba and a national identity card bearing the name Tawanda Moyo.
