A man and woman from Harare appeared in court on Monday, March 24, for allegedly robbing and raping women who were looking for jobs.
The suspects, Aleck Kanyonzo (42) and Tendai Tabazha (42), faced multiple charges after eight women, aged 19 to 42, reported that they had been lured with promises of employment and then attacked.
The pair appeared before Harare Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa, who advised them to seek bail at the High Court because the charges were serious. They will return to court on April 8 as the investigation continues.
It is alleged that Tabazha would approach women in public places, offering them jobs as housemaids or shop assistants. Once the women showed interest, she collected their contact details to arrange meetings.
Kanyonzo would then pick them up, pretending to take them to work. Instead, he would drive them to isolated areas near Lake Chivero farms, where he allegedly threatened them with a knife, raped them, and stole their belongings, including phones, clothes, and cash.
The pair reportedly targeted women between January 2024 and March 2025, attacking each victim on different days. The stolen items were given to Tabazha, who would sell them and share the money with Kanyonzo and another accomplice who is still at large.
They ran out of luck on March 20, 2025, after Tabazha approached a relative of a 23-year-old woman, offering a job as a shop assistant. Although the relative refused, they shared the victim’s contact information.
The next day, the victim met Tabazha at Machipisa Shopping Centre, where Kanyonzo took over, leading her onto a commuter bus.
Instead of taking her to a job, he took her to a secluded area, where he allegedly raped her three times at knifepoint and stole her phone and bag.
After the assault, the traumatised victim encountered some passersby who helped her track Kanyonzo. He was caught with her stolen phone and clothes.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/job-offers-turn-into-nightmares/">The Herald</a>

Pindula News

Two people in Harare are accused of robbing and raping women who were looking for jobs. The suspects offered fake job offers to women, then attacked them in isolated areas. They stole phones, clothes, and cash from the victims. The suspects were caught after a victim's relative refused a job offer and shared her contact information. The suspects were arrested after assaulting a victim who was rescued by passersby. They are now awaiting trial in court.

Eight Women Raped And Robbed In Harare After Getting Fake Job Offers

OK Zimbabwe Limited has alerted the public about a fake message circulating on social media that falsely claims to offer jobs at their company.
In a statement, OK Zimbabwe said the advertisement was not legitimate and did not come from them.
The company advised prospective jobseekers that their real job openings are only posted on their official website and LinkedIn page. The statement reads:
<blockquote>
It has come to our attention that a fraudulent message is circulating on social media falsely claiming to offer employment opportunities at OK Zimbabwe Limited.
We would like to take this opportunity to inform the public that this information is not legitimate and did not originate from OK Zimbabwe Limited. We distance ourselves from this communication in its entirety.
As an equal opportunity employer, OK Zimbabwe Limited is committed to fair hiring practices. All legitimate job vacancies will only be posted through our official channels, which include our website 
www.okziminvestor.com and our LinkedIn page OK Zimbabwe Limited (Official Page).
We urge all job seekers to verify any employment opportunities directly through these platforms to avoid falling victim to scams.
We encourage the public to report any suspicious activity related to employment offers purportedly from OK Zimbabwe Limited.
</blockquote>

OK Zimbabwe told people a fake message is online about jobs at their company. They said it's not real. Real job openings are only on their website and LinkedIn. If you see a fake job ad, don't believe it. Check their official channels to be safe. Don't fall for scams. If you see anything suspicious, tell OK Zimbabwe. They want to hire people, but only through the right channels. Be careful about job offers online.

OK Zimbabwe Disowns False Employment Ads Circulating Online

Two men suspected of luring women with fake job offers in a WhatsApp group and subsequently raping them were caught in a trap set by residents. Macdonald Manzungu and Tedious Nyashanu, both 20, were apprehended on Saturday evening, reported <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/they-used-whatsapp-to-lure-their-victims-and-then-walked-into-a-trapl-two-suspected-rapists-nabbed/">H-Metro</a>.
The suspects were handed over to the police and are currently in custody at Chikwanha Police Station in Chitungwiza, awaiting court proceedings as investigations continue. 
The trap was orchestrated by a youth leader from Charigwati Village in Seke, who mobilised other local youths, including Kudakwashe Machipisa, Itai Mahachi, and Michael Shonhiwa.
They managed to contact the father of a woman from Waterfalls who had been raped in a previous incident and informed him of their plan to capture the perpetrators.
Using a friend of the victim as bait, they had her post a message in the same WhatsApp group, stating she was seeking a job as a housemaid. The suspects responded, promising her an employer willing to pay $60 more than her current salary of $100.
On Saturday evening, arrangements were made for the woman to meet the supposed “employment agents” near Chikwanha Shopping Centre in Seke.
Unbeknownst to Manzungu and Nyashanu, three groups had been set up to pursue them. As they walked with their latest victim toward Nyatsime College, the groups pounced on them near the Manhombo area, successfully apprehending the suspects.
This comes after the Police recently issued a statement, warning jobseekers against responding to job postings and dating requests on social media.
A 20-year-old woman was sexually abused after being lured to a secluded place at Charigwati Village Seke on December 06 this year.
The woman had responded to a fake job posting for a bar sales position.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Two men in Chitungwiza were caught raping women they lured with fake job offers on WhatsApp. Residents set a trap and caught the two suspects, Macdonald Manzungu and Tedious Nyashanu. They were handed over to the police and are waiting for court. The trap was set up by local youths, and they caught the suspects when they tried to meet a woman for a fake job. The police warned people not to trust job postings on social media. Another woman was also sexually abused by the suspects earlier.

Two WhatsApp Rapists Arrested In Chitungwiza

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has urged the public to refrain from responding to job postings and dating requests on social media.
This warning comes in the wake of a tragic incident in Seke District, Mashonaland East Province, where a 20-year-old woman was sexually assaulted after answering a fraudulent job advertisement.
Police said the woman was lured to a secluded location in Charingwati Village on Friday after she responded to a fake posting for a bar sales position.
<blockquote>
The ZRP warns the public against responding to job postings and dating requests on social media. This follows an incident in which a 20 year old woman was sexually abused after being lured to a secluded place at Charingwati Village Seke on 06/12/24. The woman had responded to a fake job posting for a bar sales position.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The police in Zimbabwe are telling people not to believe job ads and dating requests on social media. A woman in Seke was raped after she answered a fake job ad for a bar sales position. She was tricked into going to a secluded place. The police want everyone to be careful and not trust everything they see online. It's important to stay safe and not meet strangers from the internet.

Seke Woman Raped After Responding To Fake Job Ad

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has warned the public about a surge in fraudulent recruitment calls made by individuals impersonating ZPCS officials. These scammers are utilising social media platforms to spread counterfeit recruitment advertisements.
In a statement released on September 26, the ZPCS said that these individuals are deceiving job seekers into paying fees for non-existent employment opportunities.
The ZPCS emphasized that it does not charge any fees for recruitment, selection, or training. All recruitment activities are conducted directly by the ZPCS without the involvement of third parties. Reads the statement:
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) urgently calls for public awareness regarding a disturbing increase in fraudulent calls for recruitment being perpetrated by unscrupulous individuals masquerading as ZPCS officials.
<blockquote>
These criminals are targetting job seekers, tricking them to pay fees for non-existing employment opportunities within the ZPCS.
The ZPCS has observed with great concern, a surge in scammers leveraging social media platforms disseminating counterfeit recruitment advertisements.
Their ultimate aim is to get money from hopeful and unsuspecting candidates, thereby causing financial loss and emotional distress to many.
Despite our consistent efforts to educate the public through various media outlets, we regret to inform members of the public that numerous individuals have already fallen prey to these deceitful practices.
The brazen nature of these scams is alarming, with some impostors even openly soliciting applicants to attend fake selection exercises.
The ZPCS categorically asserts that it does not charge any fees for recruitment, selection or training. 
All recruitment activities are conducted directly by the ZPCS without imposing any costs on candidates and we do not engage any third parties in the official recruitment processes.
We therefore wish to reiterate that all authentic ZPCS recruitment initiatives are publicly announced via established mainstream print and electronic media outlets.
Interested applicants are required to respond with written applications, and selections are conducted at designated ZPCS centres across all provinces.
In response to this growing threat, we strongly urge the public to independently verify the authenticity of any recruitment advertisements.
Citizens should consult the nearest ZPCS offices to confirm the legitimacy of any calls for applications to join the ZPCS.
Let there be no doubt, we are committed to protecting job seekers from these criminal activities and we need everyone’s help to combat these atrocities.
We thank you for your cooperation and commitment to safeguarding our community from fraud.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service is warning people about fake job offers from scammers pretending to be officials from ZPCS. These scammers are using social media to trick job seekers into paying for jobs that don't exist. ZPCS wants the public to know that they don't charge any fees for recruitment. They do all recruitment themselves and don't use third parties. People are being urged to be careful and verify any recruitment ads before paying any money. ZPCS is working to protect job seekers from these scams and asks for everyone's help in stopping them.

Rising Recruitment Scams Worry Prisons And Correctional Service

The Ministry of Health and Childcare (MoHCC) has warned members of the public about a fake Nurse Aid Intake advert circulating on social media.
The fake advert, purportedly issued by MoHCC, sets 28 October 2022 as the registration deadline and invites applications to register on mobile phone number 0779091530.
The Ministry of Health has distanced itself from the advert, saying it is the work of fraudsters who are trying to fleece unsuspecting people of their money. It said:
<blockquote>
MoHCCZim wishes to advise members of the public that it has NOT advertised for any Nurse Aid Intake as purported by a Fake Advert making the rounds across some social media platforms.
Members of the public are also hereby warned to be wary of fraudsters who are bent on fleecing unsuspecting people of their money in the guise of such adverts.
</blockquote>

FAKE: Ministry Of Health Has Not Advertised Nurse Aid Intake

Police in South Africa’s North West have arrested a 38-year-old suspected serial rapist who allegedly targeted Shona-speaking Zimbabwean women.
The man reportedly used Facebook to lure more than 15 women by advertising jobs and would then rape and rob them when they arrived at the rendezvous.
Police spokesperson Colonel Adele Myburgh said the man was arrested on Tuesday after police received information about his whereabouts.
Myburgh revealed that one of the cases was reported in Potchefstroom on 9 September 2021. She said:
<blockquote>
A 27-year-old woman, who was allegedly scheduled to meet a lady who promised her a job via WhatsApp, arrived at a shopping centre close to the taxi rank in Potchefstroom.
The woman, who was from Johannesburg, met with a man as arranged by the lady she had been communicating with. She and the man boarded a taxi and alighted at Extension 11, Ikageng.
The man allegedly took the woman to a bushy and secluded place next to the N12, where she was ultimately overpowered, strangled, raped and robbed of her personal property.
</blockquote>
More than 15 rapes, all with the same method, had been reported between September 2021 and October 2022, added Myburgh.
She said the man was arrested at a house in Alabama, close to Klerksdorp.
The man was found with a knife and various cellphone sim cards, which police seized. Said Myburgh:
<blockquote>
The team then proceeded to the suspect’s residence in Jouberton, Extension 11, where 11 bags full of ladies’ clothes (suspected to be belonging to victims) and eight cell phones were found. More sim cards were also seized.
</blockquote>
The man appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court on Thursday charged with several charges of kidnapping, rape, and robbery.
He was remanded in custody and will appear in court again on 1 November. | <a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/cops-arrest-alleged-serial-rapist-who-used-facebook-to-lure-zim-women-looking-for-jobs-20221021">News24</a>

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