Kidney Patient’s Hope Fades as Uncle Loses US$13K in Ecocash Scam
…suspect released on US$100 bail
By Kwedu News
Harare – A desperate patient in need of a kidney transplant in India, has been dealt a devastating blow as her uncle fell victim to a heartless Harare Ecocash dealer.
The dealer, Tendai Chibwe, operating from a service station along the Harare-Bulawayo road allegedly duped the uncle, Nigel Makono, out of thousands of dollars meant for his niece, Ruth Hwarara’s life-saving surgery.
The case is now before the courts and Chibwe was released on US$100 bail.
Hwarara’s plight had captured the nation’s attention, with many donating to her cause, starting April 2024, after she appealed for help on social media to raise the needed US$30 000.
A report by a Zimbabwean national tabloid, H-Metro, says when Makono attempted to cash out the donated funds after his account reached its limit, he was taken advantage of by the suspect, Chibwe.
Makono is said transferred US$13,000 into Chibwe’s account in batches of US$500 but only received US$1,600 in cash; Chibwe then became evasive, and efforts to recover the remaining balance have been unsuccessful.
