By Own Correspondent
HARARE — Motorists travelling late at night along the Chitungwiza-Nyatsime route have been urged to exercise extreme caution following an alleged encounter with suspected fraudsters using counterfeit United States dollar notes to target taxi operators around Zengeza 3.
A Harare motorist who travelled to Zengeza 2 on Friday night to assist a friend said he narrowly escaped a potentially dangerous situation after they picked up two men who claimed they wanted transport to Nyatsime.
“We had gone to Zengeza 2 to assist a friend. On our way, we decided to pick up passengers to help cover the fuel costs,” the motorist said.
“While we were at Zengeza 3, two men offered US$10 to go to Nyatsime. One of them produced a US$20 note while he was still outside the vehicle and demanded change.”
The motorist said his colleague, who was travelling as a passenger, refused to give the change while the man was still outside the vehicle.
“My colleague told him that he would give him the change during the trip. After the two men got into the car, they became angry and started accusing him of behaving as though he was the driver,” he said.
The situation became increasingly uncomfortable, prompting the passenger to devise a way of getting out of the vehicle.
“We realised that the situation could become dangerous, so my colleague asked the driver to drop him at a service station, pretending that he wanted to use the toilet,” the motorist said.
According to the motorist, the plan worked and a security guard allowed his colleague to remain inside the service station while the taxi continued towards Nyatsime with the two passengers.
“He stayed inside the service station and kept communicating with the driver by phone. The driver continued with the two men to Nyatsime and later came back safely,” he said.
The driver was allegedly paid less than the agreed amount for the journey.
“After everything was over, we checked the US$20 note and discovered that it was fake. That is when we realised that the whole situation could have been a setup,” the motorist said.
The incident could not be independently verified as a police case by the time of publication, but it comes against a documented background of counterfeit US dollar cases in Zimbabwe.
In January 2026, the Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the arrest of a 34-year-old Epworth man after he was allegedly found at a school in Kubatana in possession of counterfeit US$20 notes amounting to US$400. Police said all the notes bore the same serial number.
There have also been other cases involving counterfeit US currency, including reported cases in Gweru involving suspected fake US$100 notes.
Police have previously urged members of the public and businesses to carefully scrutinise US dollar notes before accepting them, particularly when dealing with unfamiliar customers or suspicious transactions.
The latest incident also highlights the risks faced by taxi operators and private motorists who pick up passengers at night, particularly in isolated areas.
Motorists are advised to exercise caution when accepting cash from unfamiliar passengers, avoid confrontational situations and report suspected counterfeit currency to the police instead of attempting to circulate the notes.
Members of the public who encounter suspicious individuals or transactions are encouraged to report them to the Zimbabwe Republic Police.