Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A 50-YEAR-OLD woman, employed as a driver by National Foods, appeared in court on Tuesday facing allegations of stealing groceries valued at ZWL2 133 487.
Mirika Mudyiwa, who resides in Kuwadzana 5, Harare, appeared before magistrate Ruth Moyo charged with theft of trust property.
She was advised to return to court on August 25 as she was not in custody during her initial appearance.
The complainant in the case is National Foods Private Limited, represented by its loss control officer, Mr Bhoki Nyambo.
According to the State, represented by Mr Takudzwa Jambawu, Mudyiwa was employed as a driver responsible for delivering groceries from National Foods Aspindale, Harare, to various customers across the country.
On January 10, 2023, it is alleged that Mudyiwa, in connivance with Saymore Ngonidzashe, a stores clerk at National Foods, devised a plan to steal goods from the company.
On the day in question, Mudyiwa was assigned to deliver 10 tonnes of rice to the N. Richards Hatcliffe branch in Harare.
She drove a white 15-tonne Mercedes-Benz truck with registration number AEU 3955. Upon delivery, certain goods were returned to National Foods as breakages.
These included 1 x 5kg Better Buy Rice, 50 x 10 x 2kg Better Buy Rice, 83 x 10 x 2kg Mahatma Rice.
Instead of returning the goods to National Foods as required, Mudyiwa and her accomplice allegedly converted them to their own use.
The offence came to light when N. Richards Hatcliffe Branch followed up on the goods they had returned to National Foods.
Since the returned items had already been paid for, they expected to receive replacements or a resolution.
However, investigations revealed that Mudyiwa and the stores clerk had misappropriated the goods.
The total value of the stolen rice is ZWL 2 133 487,60, and nothing was recovered.
Online Reporter