LONDON – Qoki Zindlovukazi Community Organisation founder Sithule Tshuma is once again under fire, after veteran broadcaster Ezra “Tshisa” Sibanda accused her of perpetrating fraud across various continents.
Founded in 2016 by Tshuma, the UK-headquartered all-female organisation is meant to help women pool resources together and make investments in various income-generating projects and properties.
The group, through Qoki Investments, was meant to usher in a social and economic revolution for women, drawn mostly from Matabeleland and Midlands provinces, who are working in the UK.
The grouping of about 500 women from Canada, America, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, and Zimbabwe has, over the years, raised as much as US$25 million to purchase land and initiate 27 other ambitious projects.
However, despite its noble intentions, the group has been mired in controversy over the last few years, as Tshuma has been accused of fraudulent behavior.
In a post on social media, Sibanda accused Tshuma of various scams both at home and abroad.
“The infamous Sithule Tshuma: A web of deceit spanning continents, leaving ruin in her wake*
“Sithule Tshuma, a name now synonymous with treachery, fraud and exploitation, has carved a sinister legacy across nations, Zimbabwe, Canada, USA, Australia and the United Kingdom, preying on the desperate, unsuspecting and the hopeful with cold, calculated precision.
“Hailing from her poor background in her rural Lupane all the way to Manchester UK, the poorly trained mental health nurse she duped the women of Qoki (a UK based organization), which was a noble idea had it seen the light of day.
“This notorious ‘fraudster’ first etched her mark in Manchester UK where she masterminded an elaborate land scam, duping hard working diaspora women of their life savings under the false promise of land and residential stands across Bulawayo and beyond.
“Posing as a guru in land deals the bona fide land baron, Tshuma manipulated the dreams of hardworking UK based ladies and families extracting vast sums in USD and pounds before vanishing into the shadows, leaving behind a trail of financial ruin,” Sibanda wrote.
The veteran broadcaster claimed that Tshuma had purchased property under the pretext that it would be registered to the group yet it was under her name.
“It’s clear judging from the land deals, with fake deeds, overpriced land, fake agreements of sale and refusal to engage ladies, this deceiving and manipulative Sithule Maguswini’ s objective and plan was to use the ladies to raise money to enrich herself.
“This was done under the pretext it was a Women’s Project yet she knew she wanted to purchase the land as hers. The unsuspecting women reported to be numbering over 550 poured millions of dollars to her bank accounts and that of her relatives and friends.
“Driven by greed while constipated with evil, she registered all the land she bought using ladies’ money into her own Qoki Pvt Ltd Company. In short no one has land amongst those ladies. It’s like they did crowdfunding for her.
“The insensitive, heartless and greedy Sithule always takes to social media to abuse and attack victims of her land scam. Being bullied and insulted because they want their money they worked for, is that fair?
“The poor victims have NO LAND and their MONEY was used to buy Sithule properties and land scattered all over Bulawayo and SA,” Sibanda said.
Sibanda claimed over 50 cases related to Tshuma were currently under investigations.
“I am pleased most ladies reported their cases with Zimbabwe Republic Police. There are over 50 reports lodged with Bulawayo police and being investigated. She has refused to come and answer accusations laid against her.
“If she was genuine with her land deals, she would come and defend herself. The police reports and High Court cases offered fleeting hope for justice, yet the scars of her predatory reign remain.
“A woman without conscience, Sithule Tshuma exemplifies the darkest depths of human greed, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, sucking blood and feasting on the vulnerability of those who dared to trust.
“Until the law delivers unyielding retribution, her victims remain trapped in the wreckage of her lies. I stand with Qoki Victims,” Sibanda said in a post on Facebook.
Meanwhile Tshuma responded in a Facebook post saying:
“Oooohhh when I’m busy trying my best to complete projects so people can get refunds or those who want to continue to continue HE’s busy asking PERMITS TO BE CANCELLED and if cancelled those women he claims he represents how will they get their refunds or stands this dude is dull man I tell you.
“Call me all you want at least when something has gone wrong I will try and fix it. Mina we can be here 24/7 with FACTS not umsangano wakho we AI. He wanted so much to take over these projects that he has his name all over.
“These women will get their refunds and stands for those who want to continue WENA you will die a pauper and as bitter as ever,” Tshuma wrote.
In December 2024, a consortium of women who alleged they had contributed funds towards the purchase of a property in Bulawayo lost their bid to encumber the property after the High Court of Zimbabwe dismissed their application.
Justice Evangelista Kabasa dismissed the application by Patient Banda to place a caveat on a property owned by Qoki Zindlovukazi Investments (Private) Limited and Mike Bekithemba Ncube.
The applicant had sought to place a caveat on the property, known as Lot 6 of Lower Nondwane, alleging that she had contributed funds to its purchase through a consortium of women.
However, the court found that the applicant had failed to provide sufficient evidence linking her to the property or demonstrating her interest in it.
In his judgment, Justice Kabasa noted that the applicant’s case relied solely on her unsubstantiated assertions, and that there was no link between her and the property owner, or between her and the company that had purchased the property.
