A lucrative investment scheme, built on the promise of premium South African imports, has crumbled into a costly reality for one local investor, leaving a Harare company director scrambling to explain why a promised venture evaporated into thin air.
Desmond Zhakata (36), the director of Oakwood Fitting Solutions (Private) Limited, is currently facing the heat of the justice system. He was hauled before the Harare Magistrates Court this week, charged with fraud after allegedly duping a complainant out of nearly US$30,000. With his reputation on the line, Zhakata has been remanded in custody as the court weighs a ruling on his bail application.
The prosecution, led by Ms. Polite Chikiwa, painted a picture of a highly calculated deception. According to state allegations, the scheme began taking shape in November 2025, when Zhakata reportedly reached out to Abraham Mubvumbi with a proposal that sounded too good to pass up.
Zhakata allegedly presented Oakwood Fitting Solutions as a robust enterprise specializing in importing high-grade fitting boards from South Africa. He claimed the business was thriving but required a financial injection to keep pace with soaring demand.
The pitch was simple: a joint venture. Mubvumbi would act as the financial backer for the importation of three to four truckloads of the sought-after fitting boards, timed perfectly for the peak trading season. The agreement was reportedly set to run until the end of January 2026. To sweeten the deal, Mubvumbi was promised staggering returns—US$6,000 in profit for every single truckload sold.
Seduced by the prospect of such high-yield returns, the complainant decided to trust the Harare executive. Beginning on December 5, 2025, Mubvumbi allegedly parted with a total of US$29,960, transferring the funds to Zhakata via Remitly.
However, the promised premium imports never materialized.
The state alleges that despite persistent, demanding inquiries stretching from January through July of this year, Zhakata delivered absolutely nothing. There were no fitting boards. There were no promised profits. And, most damning of all, there was no refund.
It was only after realizing the stark reality of his misplaced trust—that he had been entirely misled—that the complainant finally turned to law enforcement.
As of today, the complainant remains out of pocket by the full US$29,960. Despite the legal action now underway, investigators report that not a single cent of the investment has been recovered, leaving behind a bitter lesson on the true cost of a golden promise.
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