Harare, Zimbabwe – Lillian Nyamasoka, the Managing Director of Shawashi Agri Private Limited, was yesterday issued with a warrant of arrest by Harare Magistrate Mrs. Appollonia Marutya after she failed to appear in court to answer serious allegations of defrauding a Chinese investor of US$74,000.
Nyamasoka is being jointly charged with her company, Shawashi Agri (Pvt) Ltd, which operates in the agricultural industry. The complainant in the primary case is Xingzhogi Enterprises, a registered company represented by its Managing Director, Tang Zhonghua.
The court heard that in March 2024, Xingzhogi Enterprises sought to purchase 12,600 kilograms of Cutrag tobacco for export. It is alleged that during the same period, the company engaged Nyamasoka and Shawashi Agri for assistance in procuring the tobacco. A contract was subsequently signed on March 11, 2024.
Xingzhogi Enterprises reportedly paid US$74,322.36 to the accused as payment for the tobacco and received a commercial invoice dated March 13, 2024.
However, the State alleges that immediately after receiving the funds, Nyamasoka misrepresented to the complainant that she had paid for the tobacco at Mashonaland Tobacco Company. In truth, and as established through investigations, she was allegedly aware that she intended to defraud the complainant.
When Xingzhogi Enterprises made follow-ups on the consignment, Nyamasoka reportedly became evasive and elusive, prompting the company to file a police report. Investigations revealed that the accused did not make any payment to Mashonaland Tobacco Company as purported, but instead converted the complainant’s money to her personal use. As a direct result of Nyamasoka’s alleged misrepresentation, Xingzhogi Enterprises suffered an actual prejudice of US$74,322.36, with no funds recovered.
The State further brought a second count of fraud against Nyamasoka. The complainant in this instance is Wang You You, a Chinese national and site manager at Xingzhongji Enterprises.
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It is alleged that in March 2024, Wang You You arrived in Zimbabwe to be employed by Xingzhongji Enterprises and required a work permit to legally work in the country. During the same period, she allegedly engaged Nyamasoka for assistance in acquiring the Zimbabwean work permit.
Nyamasoka allegedly misrepresented to Wang You You that she had the capacity to process the work permit on her behalf. Acting on this misrepresentation, the complainant paid US$1,500 to Nyamasoka as payment for the permit.
Upon receipt of these funds, Nyamasoka reportedly became elusive and failed to provide the work permit as agreed, leading to another police report being filed. Investigations into this matter also revealed that the accused did not process the work permit but instead converted the money to her own use. As a result of Nyamasoka’s alleged misrepresentation, Wang You You suffered an actual prejudice of US$1,500, with no recovery made.
ZiMetro News will continue to follow this high-profile case closely as the legal proceedings unfold.
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