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Danisa Masuku
WHEN Patria Mutandwa (33) converted money belonging to Esteemed group members to her personal use, it never dawned on her that the tables would turn, leaving her begging for the court’s mercy and crying not to be jailed.
Mutandwa, who has been making trips for the trial for theft, pleaded not guilty to the 10 counts. However, after a full trial magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe found her guilty and she will be sentenced on 3 June.
Seeing that the sun had set on her, Mutandwa in her defence, cried not to be jailed and promised to reimburse the US$1 862 she defrauded the group members.
A court heard that in January this year, businesswoman Sipho Mazibuko formed a WhatsApp group and named it Esteemed Women of Zimbabwe, and invited her friends to join.
She sold an idea to start a pool fund where they would give the recipient money on her birthday to buy whatever she wanted. The women embraced her idea and they chose Mutandwa to be the group administrator.
The court heard that after that by virtue of being the administrator she was chosen to receive money from group members and was assigned to send money to the recipients on their respective birthdays.
Being the brains behind the group, Mazibuko sent US$29 to Mutandwa via her Inn bucks account. Other group members followed suit contributing but they never knew that they would be left in tears. A total of US$1 862 was contributed.
Instead of sending money to the respective recipient(s,) on their birthdays she reportedly converted it to her personal use.
She was exposed after some of the members complained to the group that they had not received their money for birthdays.
After that, the matter was reported to the police leading to her arrest.
Online Reporter