Online Reporter
Peter Matika, Senior Court Reporter
ANOTHER lawyer from Cheda and Cheda Associates, a law firm owned by retired High Court judge Justice Maphios Cheda, has appeared in court facing a charge of theft.
Sisinga Mahlangu is accused of pocketing client funds instead of remitting them into the firm’s account. His case comes barely a week after another lawyer from the same firm, Nqobizitha Ndlovu, was arrested on multiple fraud charges.
Mahlangu appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Takudzwa Gwazemba and was granted US$50 bail.
According to court papers, it is alleged that between July and October last year, Mahlangu received US$80 from clients but converted the money to his own use.
The offence was discovered when another employee, Ms Tilda Sibanda, noticed irregularities in the books and raised the alarm. A report was made to the police, leading to Mahlangu’s arrest.
Last week, Ndlovu was brought before the courts facing multiple counts of fraud, after allegedly swindling clients of thousands of dollars in cash and assets while misrepresenting himself under the banner of Cheda and Cheda Associates.
Ndlovu was remanded out of custody until 18 September.
According to court documents, Ndlovu systematically defrauded unsuspecting clients by exploiting the firm’s credibility and using its established reputation to win their trust. He has since been dismissed from the law firm.
The first count stems from 23 January last year, when a client, Buhle Nkomazana, approached Ndlovu for a bail application.
Ndlovu allegedly charged US$2 400, of which US$1 200 was paid in cash, while the balance was settled through the delivery of two beasts.
He is accused of personally collecting the cattle from Filabusi and driving them to his farm along Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo
International Airport Road. No receipts were issued and the payments were never accounted for.
On the same day, in a separate case, Ndlovu is said to have opened a file for another client, Kidwell Mujuru, who was representing Zanu-PF in a matter before the High Court. Mujuru allegedly handed over US$200 after being told it was required for court disbursements.
Ndlovu allegedly used only US$10 for official purposes and pocketed the remaining US$190. Again, no receipt was issued.
In another case, on 26 August last year, Ndlovu allegedly failed to remit funds to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) after drafting an agreement of sale involving Daught Ndlovu, Dinguthando Matshiya and Brenda Matshiya. While he acknowledged receipt of the money, he never deposited it into official accounts.
Court documents indicate that Ndlovu failed to account for all monies and assets received, effectively defrauding clients. His arrest followed a police report lodged by those affected.
