Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
TWO Harare men, who duped Dynamos chairman Vincent Chawonza of over US$6,500 after diverting his company’s business, have been convicted.
Kenneth Nyalugwe and Kennedy Chiwara were remanded in custody pending sentencing.The State called for a custodial sentence. Chawonza bemoaned the betrayal by two men he considered to be part of his family.
He also revealed he had helped the two in their personal endeavours.
Nyalugwe and Chiwara were convicted of concealing a transaction from a principal and theft of trust property.
Nyalugwe was employed by Chawonza’s company, Open Gold, as an administrator.
Chiwara was the workshop manager.The two then established their own company while using Chawonza’s resources and targeting his clients.
This resulted in the loss of more than US$6,000 in revenue.
The court heard that on July 10, last year, Nyalugwe prepared a quotation on behalf of Open Gold to Superlinx Logistics, valued at US$6,468 for the supply of door cappings.
Four days later, Nyalugwe printed a quotation in the name of Fosterwell Investments on the company’s office printer.
Chawonza then discovered that it was being sent to his client Superlinx Logistics, and his company’s products were being included in that quotation but valued at US$5,000.
Chawonza then instructed Nyalugwe to bring his company laptop to his office, which was then inspected by IT personnel in his presence.
The IT expert discovered a folder with seven quotations using Fosterwell Investments on the company laptop.
After being questioned, the duo decided to stop coming for work and Chiwara refused to surrender the storeroom keys or respond to calls.
A stock take conducted revealed that 100 door cappings, each five metres in length, were missing from the storeroom under Chiwara’s control.
Investigations revealed that Nyalugwe had supplied similar products to Superlinx Logistics under the name Fosterwell Investments, without the knowledge or approval of Chawonza and his company, despite being employed by the company.
Due to the duo’s action, Chawonza’s company suffered an actual prejudice of US$6,468,75 from the stolen property and business.
