By Desire Tshuma
Bulawayo – HEZY Motors Logistics director Hezel Silibaziso Mafu has been hit with 14 fresh counts of fraud in Bulawayo, bringing the total number of fraud charges she faces in the two cases to 93.
Mafu appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Lungile Ncube on Wednesday, where the State accused her of allegedly defrauding 14 clients who sought to have vehicles imported from Japan.
The State alleges that the complainants paid deposits ranging between US$2 200 and US$8 901 for different vehicles after being promised that their cars would be sourced from Japan and delivered to them. However, prosecutors allege that the vehicles were never purchased despite the payments being made.
In some cases, Mafu allegedly stopped responding to clients’ calls, leaving them unable to establish the whereabouts of their money or the vehicles they had paid for.
Mafu was granted US$500 bail and ordered not to interfere with State witnesses, to reside at her disclosed address and to report every Friday to the Commercial Crimes Division. Her Bulawayo trial is set to commence on 7 September 2026.
The latest charges come against the backdrop of a separate and larger fraud case Mafu is facing in Harare, where she is answering to 79 counts. In that matter, the State alleges that Mafu operated a bogus vehicle importation scheme through which she allegedly defrauded scores of clients of more than US$624 000 and ZiG1 275 878.35.
She was granted US$500 bail in the Harare case, with conditions requiring her to report every Friday to the Commercial Crimes Division Northern Region in Harare. Her Harare trial is scheduled to begin on 2 September 2026, just days before the Bulawayo proceedings.
The mounting allegations have raised concerns over vehicle importation deals in which prospective buyers pay large deposits in anticipation of receiving vehicles sourced from overseas.
Mafu has not been convicted of the offences and remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.