Mambo Dhuterere apologises to Mnangagwa after ‘name dropping’ wife is arrested
Gospel musician Mambo Dhuterere has issued a public apology to President Emmerson Mnangagwa after his wife, Mai Dhuterere, was arrested and charged with fraud involving US$16 000 after she allegedly used his name to falsely claim she had a waiver to import vehicles duty-free.
Mai Dhuterere (36) was arrested on fraud charges and appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning.
According to allegations, Mai Dhuterere and her accomplice, her brother Kudakwashe Vambe, misrepresented to the complainant that they had a Toyota Hilux GD6 on sale.
They allegedly promised the complainant two vehicles for US$16,000 and falsely claimed that Mai Dhuterere had a waiver from Mnangagwa to import vehicles duty-free.
“They also misrepresented that the singer had a waiver “courtesy of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe for singing for the nation” and they could bring the vehicles to Zimbabwe duty-free,” the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said in a statement.
A few hours after the his wife’s court appearance Mambo Dhuterere took to his Facebook page and issued a public apology.
“Am very sorry to the President for being dragged in these mess.. and sorry to guy kana iri nyaya yeshuwa cos kuno vese varikundirambira. I have never been granted free pass yekupinza anything for free.
“Former MP maizovharwa sei nana tsano kuti ivo vane pass and with your understanding you should have known kuti hakuna zvakadaro or kundifonera unless muchidawo kusvibisa ini that won’t be fair.
“Anyone anedhiri raakaita na someone close to me claiming I know something as long as usina kundiona handizvizi.. how painful kusvibiswa neve pedyo, tsanoz ne mfesi uyu vakazivana ndisati ndaziva madam.
“Police pa Central ne Southerton yakambovakumbira kuti yananai nyaya dzenyu dzosvibisa Mambo, here we’re… Hamunawo tsitsi neni here ndirikubva munedzimwe nyaya dzaigadzirwa ne vanhu ndoti ndadzokawo mondidai..
“Knowing deeply kuti l have nothing to do with this.. police ndoo yonzwa tsitsi zvokutokukumbirai kuyanana moramba, not only that motodhonza ne mkuru wenyika… Mwari wekudanga ave ne vanhu ava,” he ended his statement.
According to the state’s case the complainant handed over US$16,000 to Mai Dhuterere, who receipted the payment in the form of an affidavit, committing to deliver the vehicles within two weeks.
Mai Dhuterere, however, failed to deliver the vehicles, instead providing the complainant with a Ford Ranger registered in Botswana. She, reportedly, promised to give him another car, a Mercedes Benz C200, at a later date.
The Ford Ranger was eventually impounded by the police for being used without a valid temporary permit.
Mai Dhuterere was granted US$100 bail.
