Popular comedian Admire ‘Mama Vee’ Mushambi took to the witness stand and told the court of how he was duped by the E-Creator investment scheme which he promoted. The platform is alleged to have defrauded Zimbabweans of over US$1 million, leaving a trail of financial ruin. Mushambi, known for his comedic roles, presented a sombre figure as he detailed his own significant losses.
Presiding magistrate Francis Mapfumo listened as the entertainer explained his initial involvement. He stated that he was formally approached to act as a brand ambassador for the company, a role he has undertaken for other businesses in the past.
“I’m a comedian who does advertising for brands on social media,” Mushambi told the court. “I was on holiday in South Africa when I was called by a team from E-Creator. I can’t say a specific name of the person who called me because it was a team and they wanted me to do a live stream for their brand activation event.”
Mama Vee Tells The Court Of How He Was Duped By A Ponzi Scheme
The comedian’s testimony painted a picture of a scheme that leveraged his credibility to ensnare others. He revealed that he not only participated himself but also extended the invitation to his inner circle, convinced of the opportunity.
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“They asked me to bring other influencers and I engaged Madam Boss,” he confessed. “I also invited my family members and friends to join in the scheme but we didn’t manage to withdraw our money after the system crashed.”
When pressed on the amount lost, Mushambi confirmed the figure was substantial, stating,
“The money I lost was in the thousands.”
Despite his prominent role in promoting E-Creator, the comedian was unable to connect the two accused men, Zhao Jiaotong and Billy Thomas Syedou, directly to the day-to-day operations, maintaining he dealt with an anonymous “team.”
The Sudden Vanishing Act That Wiped Out Fortunes
The State’s case alleges that Jiaotong and Syedou masterminded the entire Ponzi scheme through their entity, E-Creator Economic Commerce Private Limited, which operated from a prestigious address at Joina City in central Harare.
The company, presented as a legitimate online e-commerce operator, promised investors lucrative monthly returns. This promise triggered a gold rush, with thousands of citizens investing sums of up to US$1,000 via Ecocash. The operation appeared sophisticated, employing a network of agents across the nation and enlisting high-profile ambassadors like Mama Vee and Madam Boss to build trust.
The house of cards began to collapse in early July when subscribers found they could not access their funds. The company initially blamed a “system upgrade,” assuring everyone that normal service would resume shortly. However, on 5 July 2024, the devastating truth emerged.
Subscribers discovered a notice on the E-Creator website announcing the cessation of all operations, accompanied by a picture of Zhao Jiaotong, who was alleged to have fled to China with the funds. A frantic rush to their Joina City offices confirmed the worst; the premises were permanently shuttered, leaving investors facing catastrophic losses. The trial continues on 31 October.
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The post Mama Vee Tells The Court Of How He Was Duped By A Ponzi Scheme He Promoted appeared first on iHarare News.
