Mercy Mushaninga, a former Miss Zimbabwe princess and model who duped five models out of a total of US$10,200 during a disastrous Dubai modeling event, is currently organising Miss Curvy Mozambique.
Despite being ordered to repay the money and perform 350 hours of unpaid community service, Mushaninga is proceeding with the organisation of Miss Curvy Mozambique, scheduled to take place from August 11 to 18 this year.
Mushaninga, the founder of Zim Gossip Model Agency, was last year convicted of fraud following a lengthy trial presided over by Ms. Yeukai Dzuda. Ms. Dzuda initially condemned Mushaninga to 28 months in prison.
In August 2022, Mushaninga called some of the complainants on their cell phones. She sent an article titled “2022 Winners and LMMZ 2022 Finalists” via WhatsApp social groups, inviting the complainants, who are models, to compete in the 6th Miss Universal VIP World 2022 and 16th Little Miss Universe Beauty Pageant events in Dubai, which were set for October 25-30.
According to the State’s case, Mushaninga introduced herself as the event organiser and asked the complainants to pay for their air tickets, visa fees, and accommodations through her.
Mushaninga reassured the complainants that they would travel and stay together as a team at the Al Habtoor Hotel Polo Resort in Dubai.
The complainants each paid amounts ranging from US$1,650 to US$2,900 to cover the event expenses.
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However, on October 24, the planned travel date, at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, the complainants realised they had been defrauded by Mushaninga, who failed to provide their air tickets, visas, and hotel accommodation.
On October 25, the complainants reported the fraud to Harare Central Police Station.
