Couple Jailed 51 Years For Robbing And Raping Job Seekers In Fake WhatsApp Employment Scheme

Married Couple Jailed For 51 Years After Fake Job Trap Leads To Rape And Robbery

A Harare husband and wife will spend decades behind bars after they used fake WhatsApp job adverts to lure desperate young women to secluded spots, where they robbed and raped their victims in a sinister scheme that targeted the unemployed.

Jameson Jackson (28) and his wife Blessing Mapfuwa (24) were sentenced on March 31, 2026, at the Harare Regional Court. The couple faced multiple charges stemming from attacks that took place in June 2025. Jackson was convicted on three counts of rape and three of robbery. Mapfuwa was convicted on three counts of robbery. Their victims believed they were applying for honest work. Instead, they walked into a trap.

‘He Tied Her Hands With Her Jersey And Threatened To Kill Her’

The first attack happened on June 22, 2025. A 26-year-old woman heard about a shopkeeping job from a neighbour. She called a phone number and paid a US$20 (approx R370) application fee via EcoCash. She thought the job was real.

Jackson, through his wife Mapfuwa, lured the complainant to Mungate Shopping Centre in Domboshava under the pretext of finalising the employment process.

She arrived around 8pm. Jackson said he was Mapfuwa’s associate. He led her to a Honda Fit vehicle that later broke down. They took a commuter omnibus to Hatcliffe and got off at Pazimuti Bus Stop.

Jackson walked her along a dusty road for an hour. He said her workplace was nearby. When they reached a secluded dam, everything changed.

He ordered her to put her belongings on the ground, slapped her once and threatened her with an unidentified pistol and knife, claiming accomplices were nearby and would kill her if she resisted. He tied her hands with her jersey, forced her to lie down and sexually assaulted her without protection.

He stole US$300 (approx R5,550), ZIG$20, a handbag, clothing and her phone. He told her to leave. A Good Samaritan helped her. She reported the crime to ZRP Borrowdale.

‘The Grandmother Had Left Unexpectedly’

A second victim, aged 20, saw a housemaid job advert in a WhatsApp job-seekers group in June 2025. Mapfuwa pretended to be the employer and told her to use WhatsApp.

Jackson later arranged to meet her at Simon Muzenda Bus Terminus. When the victim arrived, Jackson claimed that the woman she had communicated with was his grandmother, who had left unexpectedly.

He led her onto a Zupco bus. They got off at Padust Bus Stop in Hatcliffe. They walked towards Borrowdale. Jackson said she needed a gate pass to avoid arrest. He took her through a bushy trail.

Jackson stopped abruptly, demanded her cell phone, and threatened her life. He then assaulted her once without protection before stealing her belongings valued at US$250 (approx R4,625) and fleeing the scene.

Police later recovered US$122 (approx R2,257) and some stolen property.

Police Raid Uncovers Victims’ IDs And A Fake Gun

Detectives tracked the couple to their home on July 19, 2025. [The Herald] reports that searches at the property recovered a kitchen knife, a silver spray gun resembling a firearm, national identity cards belonging to other victims, clothing, bags and multiple cell phones. Investigators also traced the NetOne line used to lure victims back to the couple.

Magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka sentenced Jackson to 45 years for rape – 15 years per count, to run consecutively. For robbery, both Jackson and Mapfuwa received eight years each on three counts, with two years suspended on each count for good behaviour. This means they will serve six years effective per robbery count. Jackson will serve an effective 18 years for the three robbery counts, bringing his total to 63 years. Mapfuwa will serve 18 years for the three robbery counts.

The Herald states that the couple received a combined sentence of 51 years, but based on the individual sentences provided, the total is 81 years unless some sentences run concurrently. The exact calculation of how the sentences run concurrently or consecutively was not clearly outlined.