Mclean Mpiyabo, a 24-year-old resident of Tynwald North in Harare, was sentenced to six months in prison after being found guilty of unlawfully dealing in currency.
The incident unfolded on September 19, 2024, when undercover police officers launched a sting operation to target black market currency exchange activities.
Observing Mpiyabo exchanging United States dollars (USD) for Zimbabwean dollars (ZiG), the officers posed as potential customers seeking to make an exchange.
They successfully negotiated an exchange rate with him, which set the stage for the operation.
The police provided him with USD20 in marked trap money, which he accepted.
In return, Mpiyabo promptly transferred the equivalent of ZiG400 through EcoCash, believing he had made a legitimate deal.
However, unbeknownst to him, the officers had gathered crucial evidence of the illegal transaction.
Following the successful exchange, Mpiyabo was arrested on-site, and the police seized the marked trap money alongside records of the EcoCash transfer.
Additionally, they confiscated his cellphone, which contained further evidence linked to his illicit activities.
During the court proceedings, the weight of the evidence presented against him led to a swift guilty verdict.
The magistrate emphasized the severity of currency manipulation in the economy and the potential harm it causes to the nation.
Ultimately, Mpiyabo’s actions not only resulted in a criminal record but also underscored the ongoing government crackdown on black market activities in Zimbabwe’s struggling economy.
SOURCE: NEWSREPORTZIM.COM
