Miracle Money Windfall Turns Sour for Elderly Couple in Zimbabwe
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe– A couple who miraculously stumbled upon a windfall of USD 40,000 through a banking error has now run out of luck. Frank and Fransisca Netsai Sibanda, both aged 65, found themselves in hot water after exploiting a technical glitch at Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, leading to a charge of theft involving 47 counts.
The elderly couple’s supposed stroke of fortune began on February 5 when Fransisca Sibanda opened a Silver Banking segment account at Stanbic Bank, allegedly misrepresented by her daughter as an employee of a company named Cominergy Construction Mining Energy. Just two months later, on April 5, a failed transaction triggered a reversal error, causing Steward Bank to credit an erroneous amount of USD 40,850.86 to Fransisca’s account.
Upon discovering the unexpected fortune, the couple reportedly went on a lavish spending spree in both Zimbabwe and South Africa, indulging in upscale markets and high-end food and beverage stores in Sandton, one of Johannesburg’s most affluent suburbs.
However, their luck soon ran dry when Stanbic Bank’s forensic department conducted a routine investigation and uncovered the irregularity. The couple was arrested, and now they face serious legal consequences. Appearing before regional magistrate Mr. Joseph Mabeza, both were remanded out of custody on USD 500 bail each.
Prosecutor Dominic Moyo presented the case, detailing how a transaction failure at a POS machine on April 5 triggered a series of miscalculations that led to the erroneous credit. Rather than reporting the mistake, the Sibandas seized the opportunity for a financial windfall, only to have their luck turn as authorities caught up with their scheme.
Now, the couple’s dream of unexpected riches has been shattered, replaced by the stark reality of 47 counts of theft. They are scheduled to appear in court again on October 14. As their brief flirtation with fortune ends, the Sibandas’ case stands as a reminder that when it comes to ill-gotten gains, luck can run out as quickly as it arrives.- Ziana