Church treasurer off the hook

Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
St Alois Roman Catholic Church in Chitungwiza has withdrawn charges against its treasurer who was facing theft of trust property charges. Reasons for the withdrawal were not mentioned in court yesterday.

Chokuona appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Mr Oliver Mudzongachiso, charged with stealing $6 000 from the church. He was represented by Ms Sandra Mbetu and Ms switter Madembo.

The complainant was the church represented by Mr Kizito Kachasu. Prosecutor Mr Edmond Ndambakuwa alleged that on March 4 this year, Father Xavier Murambiwa transferred $1 584 from St Alois Roman Catholic bank account into Tianze Company’s DSTV account.

The court heard that Chokuona is employed by DSTV, but also doubled as the church’s treasurer. He would withdraw cash from his workplace supposedly to deposit in the church’s safe.

Chokuona promised Father Murambiwa that he would bring him $1 584 cash and deposit the money in the church’s safe. The court heard that by the end of March 2017, Chokuona had been given a total of $1 753 by St Alois Roman Catholic Church that he was supposed to put in the church’s safe.

The church collected $533,70 from its congregants at the end of April and the money was allegedly handed over to Chokuona for safekeeping. It is alleged that at the end of May, the church’s treasury committee calculated that they had given Chokuona $2 273, 96 for safekeeping.

The court heard that on June 3, Chokuona communicated with Annie Chihumbiri through WhatsApp, intimating that he took the church’s money and was keeping it elsewhere.

It is alleged that on June 7, Chokuona was ordered to open the church safe and there was only $159,85.

The church lost $6 179, 81 and nothing was recovered.