A Bulawayo ward councillor and his co-defendant got convicted for running a scam where they took $200 from vendors by claiming they could hook them up with official selling spots in the city. Josiah Mutangi and Janet Zhou hit up 13 street traders back in February, and one person even paid double because they got promised extra locations. The magistrate shut down their defense about running some legit association called Bulawayo Achievers Association, saying they cooked up receipts and paperwork after cops got involved.
The vendors who got burned were people like Chishamiso Chihota, Editor Hora, and a bunch of others who were tired of running from municipal enforcement and wanted legitimate spaces to sell their stuff. After collecting the cash, the duo kept holding meetings and telling everyone the bay allocations were being processed, but then they started dodging people when questions came up. Sentencing got pushed back, and their lawyer tried arguing the complainants refused the bays when offered and wanted refunds instead.
The vendors who got burned were people like Chishamiso Chihota, Editor Hora, and a bunch of others who were tired of running from municipal enforcement and wanted legitimate spaces to sell their stuff. After collecting the cash, the duo kept holding meetings and telling everyone the bay allocations were being processed, but then they started dodging people when questions came up. Sentencing got pushed back, and their lawyer tried arguing the complainants refused the bays when offered and wanted refunds instead.
