An administrator at Shalom Church, Westlea Assembly, allegedly stole over US$21,000 in tithes and offerings after being instructed to deposit the money into the church’s bank account.
<a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/church-admin-steals-us21k-tithes-offerings/">H-Metro</a> reported that the administrator, Chipo Molly Machokonera, appeared before Harare magistrate Isheanesu Matova on Monday, where she was not asked to plead.
Prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi told the court that between January 1, 2023, and December 10, 2024, Machokonera was employed by the church as an administrative secretary.
Her duties included receiving and recording tithes and offerings from congregants and banking part of the money.
It is alleged that Machokonera took advantage of her position and diverted US$21,904 for her personal use.
She then misrepresented the deposits to the church by providing fake deposit slips, purporting that the money had been deposited at Steward Bank Joina City Branch in Harare, and forwarded the slips to the pastor.
The court heard that on December 10, the pastor requested a bank statement from Steward Bank, discovering that the money Machokonera claimed to have deposited was not accounted for.
He then called for an internal audit, which revealed the offence, leading to a police report and her subsequent arrest.
The total value stolen is US$21,904, and nothing has been recovered.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

A lady who worked at Shalom Church took more than $21,000 in church donations for herself. She was supposed to put the money in the church's bank account but kept it. She gave fake slips to the pastor saying she deposited the money, but she didn't. The pastor found out and reported it to the police. The lady got arrested, and all the money is still missing. She will go to court for her actions.

Church Administrator Allegedly Steals Over US$21,000 In Tithes And Offerings

An accounts clerk at Stanley Primary School in Gweru has been arrested for allegedly defrauding the institution of US$70,000.
The suspect, Soneni Muchayabande (46), from Ascot Infill in Gweru, appeared before Magistrate Aelene Munamati on charges of fraud.
Muchayabande was granted bail set at US$100 and is scheduled to return to court on January 13, 2025.
Prosecutor Brendon Ndlovu told the court that Muchayabande collected various cash amounts for school fees but converted the money for her own use.
She then falsely claimed that the funds had been deposited into the school’s bank accounts and issued fraudulent receipts. Said Ndlovu:
<blockquote>
The accused misrepresented to Stanley Primary School that US$70 952 had been deposited into the school accounts and went on to author receipts of school fees in the receipt books yet the money had not been deposited into the bank accounts.
The accused person indicated that the money was deposited into the school account yet no deposit was made.
The accused person was positively identified by witnesses who paid fees to her at the school.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

An accounts clerk at Stanley Primary School in Gweru, named Soneni Muchayabande, has been arrested for stealing $70,000 from the school. She took money from parents for school fees but used it for herself and lied about depositing it into the school's bank accounts. She even gave out fake receipts. Muchayabande has been given bail and will go to court in January 2025. Witnesses saw her taking the money and giving out receipts.

Accounts Clerk Arrested For Defrauding School Of US$70,000

A driver is on the run after allegedly stealing his employer’s 30-tonne haulage truck last month, after he was given a task to collect timber from Nyanga Pine Estate in Mutasa.
The suspect, Shepherd Kambarami (40) from Murambinda Growth Point, was employed by Itai Madondo of Fairbridge Park, Mutare, when he disappeared with the truck, valued at US$47,795.
Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka, the acting spokesperson for the ZRP in Manicaland Province, confirmed the theft to <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/driver-steals-haulage-truck/">The Manica Post</a>.
He said Kambarami left Nyanga Pine Estate without loading the timber, prompting the theft investigation.
Kambarami is now facing charges of theft of trust property. Said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka:
<blockquote>
Kambarami was employed as a truck driver by Mr Madondo, and on November 29, 2024, he was instructed to collect timber from Nyanga Pine Estate using a white Volvo 30-tonne truck (Registration Number ABN2748) with a trailer (Registration Number AFQ2804).
Kambarami drove to Nyanga Pine Estate and saw a long queue of haulage trucks ahead of him. He left the premises to an unknown destination without notifying anyone.
On December 7, 2024, Mr Madondo received a call from Wattle Company management, telling him that his truck was due for loading, but it was neither on the loading bay nor on the company premises.
Mr Madondo tried to contact the accused person several times to no avail, and made a report at Mutasa Police Station. The value of the haulage truck is US$47 795, and nothing was recovered.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A driver named Shepherd Kambarami stole his employer's truck worth almost $48,000. He was supposed to pick up timber but drove away without loading it. The police are looking for him and he is facing charges of stealing. The employer reported the theft when he realized the truck was missing. The truck has not been found yet.

Driver Vanishes With Employer's Haulage Truck

A 39-year-old woman from Hwange, Patricia Dube, squandered about US$10,000 that her South Africa-based neighbour had entrusted to her for safekeeping, later claiming that the money had mysteriously turned into pieces of paper.
Dube, from Lusumbami village in Hwange, was convicted of theft of trust property by Hwange magistrate Fungai Dzimiri and sentenced to three years in jail.
However, six months of the sentence were suspended for five years on the condition that Dube does not commit a similar offence during that period.
An additional 18 months of her sentence were suspended on the condition that she restitutes US$9,969 to the complainant, Sympathy Moyo, on or before January 30, 2025. Dube will serve an effective 12 months in jail.
Dube’s restitution deadline will determine whether the remaining 18 months of her sentence are activated.
In sentencing Dube, Magistrate Dzimiri condemned her actions, stating that she had betrayed the trust placed in her by the complainant.
The court heard that when Moyo returned from South Africa earlier this month and demanded her money, Dube claimed the cash had mysteriously turned into pieces of paper.
Prosecutor Brenda Ndlovu told the court that Moyo, a beauty therapist based in South Africa, had been sending goods for resale in Zimbabwe and entrusting the proceeds to Dube for safekeeping.
Moyo also sent cash directly to Dube during the same period. Between March 2022 and December 2023, Dube received a total of US$10,110 from Moyo.
Upon her return to Zimbabwe on December 8, Moyo approached Dube to collect her savings. The court heard that Dube led Moyo to her dining room, where she kept a blue tin cash box.
When she opened the box, she threw a bunch of cut pieces of paper onto the table, claiming that the money had either disappeared or magically turned into paper.
Unable to get a satisfactory explanation, Moyo reported the matter to the police, leading to Dube’s arrest.
Only US$141 was recovered from the cash tin, which was filled with cut pieces of paper.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A woman named Patricia from Hwange spent her friend's money and said it turned into paper. The friend gave her $10,000 to keep safe. Patricia was arrested and sentenced to three years in jail. But some of the sentence was suspended if she pays her friend back most of the money. Patricia said the cash magically turned into paper when her friend asked for it. The friend reported it to the police, and Patricia was arrested. Only $141 was left in the cash box when the police found it. The judge said Patricia broke her friend's trust.

Hwange Woman Claims Cash Turned To Paper After Squandering US$10,000 Entrusted By Friend Based In South Africa

Four Cotton Company of Zimbabwe Limited (COTTCO) employees stationed at Gokwe Depot were brought before the Gokwe Magistrates’ Court this week on allegations of stealing fertiliser meant for farmers.
The four, Chrispen Gwavuya (Business Unit Manager), Albert Kanimbirira (Business Accountant), Elvis Chakanetsa Nyamayaro (Human Resources Officer) and Thomas Fukai (Stores Officer) are facing theft of trust property charges.
Allegations are that sometime in 2023, COTTCO Gokwe depot was entrusted to distribute fertilisers to cotton farmers around the Gokwe area.
These fertilisers were under the free Presidential Input Scheme and were meant to be given to cotton farmers.
It is alleged that the accused persons acting in concert unlawfully decided to sell the fertiliser to COTTCO staff instead of giving the farmers as instructed. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said:
<blockquote>
On the 3rd of April 2023 accused 4 raised a disposal form requesting that 571 bags x 50kgs of Compound L fertilizers be written off as breakages.
On the 27th of July 2023, the accused persons held a meeting as the disposal committee and agreed that the fertilisers will be disposed to COTTCO employees. This was done without the authority or approval of the COTTCO Head Office.
The accused persons proceeded to sell 358 bags of 50kg fertilizer at USD2 to COTTCO employees who were not meant to receive them. The proceeds of the sale amounted to USD716.
</blockquote>
The four were arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC). The commercial value of the prejudice is US$12 172.
Gwauya (46), Kanimbirira (30), Nyamayaro (54) and Fukai (45) appeared before magistrate Honest Musiiwa.
They were remanded out of custody to June 27.
They were ordered to remain at their given addresses, not to interfere with State witnesses and to report to Gokwe CID offices once every week.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZACC Arrests Four COTTCO Bosses For Stealing 358 Bags Of Fertiliser

Social media personality <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Mai_Titi">Mai TT</a> appeared in court on Thursday, 02 March 2023 on allegations of defrauding a Harare woman of US$10 000.
According to <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/mai-titi-appears-in-court/">The Herald</a>, Mai TT, whose real name is Felistas Murata (36), borrowed the US$10 000 on the pretext that she wanted to venture into business and offered a hired car as collateral security.
She was not asked to plead to fraud and theft of trust property charges when she appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court.
The court heard that in September 2022, Mai TT approached Rachel Mhuka saying she was in need of US$10 000 so that she could start a business.
She allegedly volunteered to give Mhuka a Mercedes Benz (AFF9759), which she claimed belonged to her, as surety.
Mai TT told Mhuka that she would forfeit the Mercedes Benz in the event that she failed to repay the US$10 000 on or before 30 November 2022.
The State alleges that acting on the misrepresentation, Mhuka gave Murata US$10 000.
After some days, Mai Titi allegedly returned to Mhuka and demanded back the car saying it did not belong to her.
She allegedly offered Mhuka an Audi Q5 (AFG3701) and an expired passport as surety.
Sometime in January this year, Mhuka was then approached by police from ZRP Rhodesville, who then seized the Audi Q5 saying it belonged to Else Event Car Hire.
Mhuka then lodged a complaint with the police leading to Mai TT’s arrest.
It is further alleged that Mai Titi approached Liberty Kudakwashe Vazhura at Else Car Rental intending to hire an Audi Q5.
Vazhura and Mai Titi then entered into an agreement where she was supposed to pay US$770 per week and a lease agreement was signed.
She failed to make the weekly payments, which prompted Vazhura to order her to return the car.
Vazhura then reported the matter to Rhodesville Police Station.
The car was recovered from Mhuka’s place of residence where Mai Titi had surrendered it as collateral.
In the fraud case, Mai TT was remanded to April 20 while the theft of trust property matter was remanded to March 21.
She was granted free bail on both charges.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Mai TT Arrested For Fraud, Theft Of Trust Property

Nyasha Eusen, who was wrongly accused of killing Nyarai Round in September last year and had his murder case withdrawn, was on Thursday, 2 February ordered to perform 700 hours of community service for theft by a Harare magistrate.
He stole two smartphones from a Harare woman after he had told her he could repair them.
Eusen was released about two weeks ago after it emerged that he had nothing to do with Round’s murder, but the now-deceased was allegedly shot dead by ex-cop Jaison Muvevi.
Days after his release from remand prison, Eusen was spotted in a commuter omnibus by the woman, Chakaonei Matipedza, leading to his arrest.
He was taken to the Harare Magistrates Court where he admitted to conning Matipedza a Samsung Note 4 and Note 5.
Eusen took the two smartphones worth US$350 after lying to Matipedza that he was in a position to repair them. After taking the phones, he vanished.
After the conviction, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison by Harare magistrate Munashe Chibanda for theft of trust property.
The magistrate set aside 10 months of the jail term for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within that period.
The court also suspended the remaining 20 months on condition that Eusen performs 700 hours of community service.
Eusen was also ordered to pay Matipedza $280 000 for the phones.
Allegations were that in September 2019 Eusan approached Matipedza at her workplace along Chiremba Road in Hatfield in Harare and told her that he could update the system of her Samsung Note 5 and Note 4.
Matipedza then asked her son, Zvikomborero Gonorenda, to accompany Eusan to the city centre where he would update the two phones’ systems.
On arrival, Eusen told Zvikomborero to wait for him at Joina City whilst he took the phones to Market Square for a systems update. He then disappeared.
Matipedza then spotted him in Epworth while aboard a city-centre-bound commuter omnibus on January 30 and informed the police leading to his arrest.
| <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/eusan-escapes-jail-term-again/">The Herald</a>

Man Wrongfully Charged For Murder In Eastlea Escapes Jail Again

A Kwekwe man assigned by his employer to buy gold with US$16 500 reportedly went on a spending spree and blew all the money without using it for its intended purpose.
James Assima Gamton (42) of Mbizo Kwekwe was employed at Lisboa Mine Penhalonga and was given US$16 500 to buy gold on behalf of Raramai Nyakonga (35) who is a gold buyer.
Gamton allegedly gave US$5 000 to his girlfriend, Tafadzwa Mukono, and spent the rest on relatives and a family function.
Mukono confessed to receiving wads of US$10 notes amounting to US$5 000 from the accused.
Gamton pleaded guilty to the charges of theft of trust property when he appeared before Mutare magistrate Prisca Manhibi.
He was sentenced to five years in jail, with one year suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Magistrate Manhibi further suspended another two years on condition Gamton restitutes Nyakonga US$12 500.
Prosecuting, Sandra Mlambo said during the period extending from August 1 to 15, 2022 the accused was given US$16 500 by Nyakanyonga to buy gold at Lisboa Mine. She said:
<blockquote>
The accused who was employed by the complainant was handed US$3 000 to purchase gold in Penhalonga. He bought gold worth US$1 500 and left with a balance of US$1 500.
On August 12, the accused surrendered gold worth US$1 500 to the complainant. He was given a further US$15 000 to buy more gold from the same mine.
</blockquote>
He was supposed to return on daily basis with the gold but he suddenly disappeared.
The matter was reported to Police. Investigations revealed that the accused was with his girlfriend in Mutare CBD.
It was established that Mukono had already spent some of the money on his father’s memorial service in Kwekwe and also bought personal items
He allegedly gave some of the cash to a parent, siblings, and his estranged wife.
When Mukono was searched, she was found with only US$200 tucked away in her private parts.
Some of the money had been given to Rumbidzai Chitiza of Harare, Talent Sixpence and Eunice Fambisai for safe-keeping.
| <a href="https://masvingomirror.com/girlfriend-gets-us5k-after-man-stole-us165k-from-gold-dealer%ef%bf%bc/">The Mirror</a>

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