Woman arrested after attempting to sell hired vehicle using fake identity, registration documents

By Tichaona Katsvamutima

A 39-year-old woman has been arrested in Harare after allegedly attempting to sell a hired Honda Freed vehicle using forged registration documents, just a day after obtaining the car from its owner under a false identity.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) identified the suspect as Sonia Kamambo, who was apprehended by detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Vehicle Theft Squad near the National Railways of Zimbabwe premises along Kenneth Kaunda Avenue on Thursday, November 5.

Police allege that Kamambo hired the vehicle on November 4 using a counterfeit national identity card bearing the name Faith Ndlovu before attempting to dispose of it through a fraudulent sale.

In a statement published on its official X account, the ZRP confirmed the arrest.

“The ZRP confirms the arrest of Sonia Kamambo (39) in connection with a case of theft of a hired Honda Freed motor vehicle,” police said.

According to investigators, the suspect had entered into what initially appeared to be a legitimate vehicle rental arrangement, paying US$400 to secure the car for four days.

However, police allege that the arrangement was part of a scheme to obtain possession of the vehicle before selling it using falsified ownership documents.

“The suspect had allegedly hired the vehicle for four days after paying US$400,” the ZRP said.

The alleged scheme unravelled when detectives intercepted Kamambo as she attempted to sell the vehicle in central Harare.

“On 05/11/2026, detectives from CID Vehicle Theft Squad Harare arrested the suspect near the National Railways of Zimbabwe along Kenneth Kaunda Avenue, Harare, while she was attempting to sell the motor vehicle,” police said.

Investigators established that the vehicle had allegedly been obtained using a forged identity document in the name of another person.

Police said the suspect had “fraudulently hired” the vehicle on November 4 using “a fake national identity card in the name of Faith Ndlovu.”

The operation resulted in the recovery of the Honda Freed and several documents believed to have been prepared to facilitate its illegal sale.

“Detectives recovered the motor vehicle and fake documents, including a registration book, national identity card and driver’s licence,” the ZRP confirmed.

Police are now pursuing a second suspect, identified as Innocent Chikaikai, also known as Sento, who is accused of producing the fraudulent documentation.

“The suspect’s accomplice, Innocent Chikaikai, also known as ‘Sento’, who allegedly manufactured fake vehicle documents to facilitate the sale, is still at large,” police said.