By Staff writer
A United Kingdom-based man lost his truck, valued at around USD $10,000, to Gweru based fraudsters in a botched deal.
Mkhululi Mpofu is now seeking legal action to recover the truck.
It is alleged that in November last year, Mpofu left his truck that was for sale at Rideberg car sales, owned by Brian Kumirai.
In March of this year, a sales agent from the company Lawrence Tendai approached Mpofu with a proposal for a deal.
Tendai proposed that his friend, Tafadzwa Manake, wanted to buy the truck for USD $6,000.
Mpofu agreed to sell the truck on the condition that USD $2,000 would be paid up front, with the remaining amount to be paid in USD $2,000 installments over the next two months.
However, Manake only paid USD $1,700 and has been evasive on the balance.
This has prompted Mpofu to report the matter to the police.
“I left my truck at Rideberg car cales around November 2023,” he told this publication.
“In March 2024, Lawrence approached me, saying a friend of his wanted to buy the truck on a payment plan.
“Unbeknownst to me, Lawrence and his friends had been using my truck to the point where they lost the keys, drained the battery, and damaged some parts.”
He added: “I agreed to sell the truck for USD $6,000, with USD $2,000 upfront and USD $2,000 monthly thereafter.
“Tafadzwa only paid $1,700, took my truck, and since then there have been no further payments.
It has just been lies, excuses, and even threats at times.”
When contacted for comment, Manake said the truck had mechnical faults.
“I incurred some costs trying to fix the car, so I can only pay him USD $3,000 when I get it back,”he said.
