BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
BULAWAYO – Dumisani Mankunzini, the controversial former club cricketer, has been released from jail for “lack of evidence” after spending three months in prison on charges of fraud.
He was let go on 31 January after a Bulawayo Magistrate Court ruled that there was no sufficient evidence to prosecute the Matabeleland Tuskers former fringe spin bowler.
A Supernatant T Chirogo, officer-in-charge of Bulawayo Prisons, wrote:
“The above named, 2972/22 Dumisani Mankunzini, ID number 08-2081627J56 was incarcerated at Bulawayo Prison no three (3) charges of fraud and one (1)charge of making away without payment as from the 5th of November 2022 to the 31th of January 2023 when further remand was refused due to lack of evidence. He was eventually discharged from prison on the 31th of January.”
Mankunzini, in his early 30s, has a raft of swindle allegations against him in Zimbabwe and South Africa over a period of more than five years.
On nearly all occasions, the trail of victims – won over by Mankunzini’s sweet tongue and deceitful self-presentation as a distinguished former Zimbabwe national team player – didn’t record credible evidence to nail the daring con-artist, which again has come out in his favour in the latest court ruling.
But Mankunzini landed in hot soup late last year after he preyed on a guest house and two health practitioners, who provided incriminating evidence leading to the arrest on 4 November.
Mankunzini is said to have fled from Serenity Lodge in Bulawayo last June without settling his bill after putting up at the suburban establishment in Hillside for four days.
He then swindled Dennis Muringisi, a city pharmacist, out of US$300 after promising to facilitate employment for him at the head offices of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) in Harare.
Then posing as a Member of Parliament, Mankunzini is said to have tricked nurse aide Mercy Ndlovu into paying him US$435 so that he could expedite her search for work in the United Kingdom.
Mankunzini would later made request for a further payment of US$600 from Ndlovu, which arose deep suspicion in the desperate and increasingly apprehensive young woman.
She reported the matter to the police and a trap was set up, using US$300, bringing to a halt the tricks of an incorrigible offender.
He is now a free man, for only for now.
