Harare Regional Magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka has issued an arrest warrant for popular local rapper Tinashe Gonzara, known as Ti Gonzi, following his failure to appear in court on Wednesday. Ti Gonzi is a key witness in an ongoing fraud case involving the sale of a smuggled vehicle.

The case centers on allegations against Felix Chikondo, a security aide to Prophet Walter Magaya. Chikondo is accused of illegally importing a Japanese Toyota Mark X between July and August 2025 and then selling it to Ti Gonzi under false pretenses.

According to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), represented by revenue supervisor Collin Ncube, Chikondo smuggled the vehicle and fraudulently obtained new number plates by using registration details from a car owned by Dumisani Dube. The plates, AGS 2550, were issued in Dube’s name after Chikondo applied through the CID Vehicle Theft Squad and enlisted a car clearing agent, Andrew Musoni, who submitted the necessary documents to the Central Vehicle Registry.

Chikondo paid Musoni US\$50 for the plates, which he then affixed to the smuggled Toyota before selling the car to Ti Gonzi for US\$5,000. The vehicle was later seized by the Vehicle Theft Squad on January 7 in Mbare while Ti Gonzi was driving it. Authorities informed him that the car was smuggled and bore counterfeit plates.

Further investigations revealed that the vehicle had no import clearance or duty payment records with ZIMRA, resulting in an outstanding import duty of US\$3,389.55.

Ti Gonzi first encountered the vehicle on August 29, 2024, at Eastlea Car Sales garage, where dealer Jarmine Rubatika directed him to the Yadah Hotel car park in Waterfalls, Harare. There, Chikondo showed him the Toyota Mark X, which Ti Gonzi subsequently purchased in full.

The rapper has publicly accused Chikondo of defrauding him, claiming he lost approximately US\$6,000 in the transaction. Ti Gonzi has appealed for assistance in recovering his money, highlighting the ongoing legal battle surrounding the case.

The warrant for Ti Gonzi’s arrest was issued due to his absence from court, where his testimony is considered crucial to the prosecution’s case against Chikondo.
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