A Harare man has appeared in court facing fraud charges after allegedly duping his girlfriend out of US$500 by impersonating her pastor and claiming the money would be spiritually “blessed” and multiply.
John Mushayavudzi (32) appeared at the Mbare Magistrates Court last week, where he denied the allegations. He was remanded out of custody pending the commencement of his trial.
The complainant, Enteetes Ashley Musamirapamwe (26), is both the alleged victim and Mushayavudzi’s girlfriend.
According to court proceedings, the matter dates back to June 2025 when Mushayavudzi allegedly asked Musamirapamwe for a US$200 loan, claiming he needed the money to retrieve his vehicle from the border. She reportedly gave him the cash.
When she later requested repayment, Mushayavudzi allegedly avoided her. The court heard that he then began communicating with her using a different phone number, posing as a pastor from their church.
Through the messages, the impersonator allegedly advised Musamirapamwe not to demand the money back, claiming it was “seed money” that would multiply if she trusted in God.
In September 2025, the messages allegedly escalated, instructing both Musamirapamwe and Mushayavudzi to contribute US$100 each per month, with promises of blessings and financial growth through prayer. Believing the messages were from a genuine pastor, Musamirapamwe reportedly continued making payments.
By November 2025, she had allegedly handed over a total of US$500. Her suspicions were raised after noticing inconsistencies in the messages, and she later discovered that the person posing as the pastor was allegedly Mushayavudzi himself.
The matter was reported to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Glen View, leading to Mushayavudzi’s arrest. The total value of the alleged fraud is US$500, and no money has been recovered.
