A Harare man has appeared in court accused of defrauding his girlfriend of US$500 by pretending to be her pastor and claiming the money would be “blessed” and multiply.
John Mushayavudzi, 32, who denies the allegations, appeared at Mbare Magistrates Court last week facing fraud charges. He was remanded out of custody pending the start of his trial.
The complainant, 26-year-old Enteetes Ashley Musamirapamwe, is both the alleged victim and Mushayavudzi’s girlfriend.
The court heard that the matter began in June 2025, when Mushayavudzi asked Musamirapamwe for a US$200 loan, saying he needed the money to retrieve his car from the border. She gave him the cash.
When she asked for repayment a week later, Mushayavudzi reportedly avoided her. He is alleged to have then used a different phone number to impersonate a pastor from their church, sending messages advising her not to demand the money back and claiming it was “seed money” that would multiply if she trusted in God.
In September 2025, the messages escalated, instructing both her and Mushayavudzi to contribute US$100 each per month, with promises of blessings and financial growth through prayer. Believing the spiritual pretence, Musamirapamwe continued making payments.
By November 2026, she had given a total of US$500. Suspicions were raised when she noticed inconsistencies in the messages and later discovered that the supposed pastor was actually Mushayavudzi.
The matter was reported to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Glen View. Mushayavudzi was arrested, and the total value of the alleged fraud is stated as US$500. No funds have been recovered.
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