Staff Reporter
A Ghanaian national accused of masterminding an elaborate counterfeit currency and “black money” scam that duped Masvingo South legislator Tanatsiwa Mukomberi (pictured) out of US$100,000 has appeared in court facing fraud and money laundering charges.
Jonathan Gwed appeared before the courts on Thursday following his arrest during a police operation in Harare last weekend.
The accused operated a sophisticated fake currency syndicate linked to the production of counterfeit United States dollar notes at a lodge along Gunhill Avenue.
Police raids carried out at the lodge and at Gwed’s residence in Kuwadzana led to the recovery of more than 5,000 fake US$100 notes, together with equipment and chemicals suspected to have been used in the counterfeiting operation.
Among the items seized were black trunks, bond paper cut to resemble banknotes, syringes, iodine finisher liquid, baby powder, a hard drive and a machine used in the processing of counterfeit money.
According to court papers, the scam dates back to November 2025 when Gwed approached Mukomberi claiming to represent foreign investors interested in injecting US$5 million into Zimbabwe.
Prosecutors say the accused introduced himself as “Jonathan Gwe” from Cote d’Ivoire and claimed to be working in partnership with the Swiss Reserve Bank.
The court heard that the proposed investment targeted sectors including mining, education and micro-finance. Mukomberi, who operates an academy in Masvingo which he intended to expand it into a boarding school, agreed to meet the suspect at a Harare hotel to discuss the deal.
During the meeting, Gwed produced what appeared to be a Swiss passport and convinced the legislator that millions of dollars had already been smuggled into Zimbabwe in sealed trunks.
However, the accused claimed the money had been chemically stained and required specialised cleaning equipment from South Africa before it could circulate legally.
Believing the explanation, Mukomberi paid US$100 000 towards the purchase of the machine.
The State is saying the MP later became suspicious after Gwed demanded more money while claiming to be sourcing the equipment in South Africa.
After failing to contact the suspect, Mukomberi forced open the trunks left in his custody and discovered pillows, an electric iron and bundles of counterfeit notes.
Police say the legislator lost US$100 000 in the scam and none of the money has been recovered. Investigators further allege that Gwed used a similar scheme to defraud another complainant from Mutorashanga of US$40 000 after promising to clean chemically stained US dollar notes.
The case has once again highlighted the resurgence of so-called “black money” scams in Zimbabwe, where fraudsters lure victims with promises of hidden foreign currency that supposedly requires chemicals or specialised machinery to restore genuine banknotes.
Gwed remains in custody pending a ruling on his bail application.
