BY VANESSA C.K MUSARURWA

On Tuesday 16 April, a woman in Chitungwiza appeared in court for allegedly duping Pastel Paints Manufacturer of over $1 800 by using a cloned card.

Vongai Majoko (40) appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Learnmore Mapiye charged with unauthorised use or possession of a credit card or debit card. It is alleged that on April 13, Majoko hatched a plan to steal from Proud Mutizwa Mudengezi, the managing director of Pastel Paints.

Pursuant to her plan she manufactured, copied or duplicated Mudengezi’s CABS debit card which was linked to his account number and cellphone.

Armed with the duplicated card , Majoko went to Spar Supermarket at Queensdale Shopping Centre where she bought 6 bottles of gold blend whisky, 36 Castle Lager cans, 24 Carling black labels, 6 by Two Keys Whisky,28 by Hunters dry, 1 by 20 Madison toasted, 1 by Everest menthol, 11 by Castle Lite all valued at $441.18.

Mudengezi received a confirmation on his phone that his card had been used to buy goods at Spar Supermarket.

He then rushed to the shop and upon his arrival; he was advised that Majoko had already left with the groceries.

Due to Majoko’s actions, Mudengezi lost $441.18 and nothing was recovered.

On the second account, on the same day, Majoko armed with the duplicated card went to Ok Supermarket, Queensdale where she bought groceries in bulk totalling $1 372.34.

Majoko gave the till operator a steward bank debit card which he swiped.

 After the transaction was successful, Mudengezi received a confirmation that he had bought goods at Ok Supermarket.

 Mudengezi rushed to the supermarket and he managed to intercept the groceries being loaded into a truck by Tinotenda Chinyemba.