By Connect Stories Reporter
An unsuspecting United Kingdom-based man, Mkhululi Mpofu, lost his truck, valued at USD $10,000, to Gweru fraudsters in a botched deal, leaving him counting his losses.
Mr. Mpofu left his truck for sale at Rideberg Car Sales, owned by Brian Kumirai, at the end of last year.
In March of this year, sales agent Lawrence Tendai, employed by Kumirai at Rideberg, approached Mpofu with a deal, claiming 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.
Since then, Manake has been elusive, evading Mpofu’s attempts to collect the remaining money, prompting Mpofu to report the case to the police.
“I left my truck at Rideberg Car Sales around November 2023, which is owned by Brian Kumirai. 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.
“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—just lies, excuses, and even threats at times,” Mpofu said.
The case is still in the hands of the police.
When contacted for comment, Manake said the truck had technical faults, adding, “I incurred some costs trying to fix the car, so I can only pay him USD $3,000 when I get it back,” before abruptly hanging up the phone.