Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
A 61-year-old Harare woman has appeared in court accused of unlawfully disposing of cinema equipment and other assets worth US$34 980 belonging to her former business partner following a separation and settlement agreement.
Robyn Mary Hutchings (61) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Jessie Kufa, jointly charged with theft of trust property alongside her alleged accomplice, Munyaradzi Taruvinga (30).
The complainant is Ms Chipo Joginah Ndudzo (51).
The court heard that Ms Ndudzo and Hutchings were business partners operating a cinema at Road House Cinema at Sam Levy’s Village in Borrowdale.
On April 23, 2026, the two parties entered into a separation and settlement agreement under which one partner would buy out the other’s interest in the business.
Ms Ndudzo opted to buy Hutchings’ entire shareholding and interests in the cinema business for US$270 000.
According to the agreement, Hutchings was to relinquish all rights and interests in the business and vacate the premises upon receiving full payment.
However, Hutchings requested permission to remain until May 31, 2026, to honour commitments relating to pre-booked events, a request that was granted by Ms Ndudzo.
The parties subsequently agreed that the formal handover and takeover of the cinema would take place on May 31.
As part of the transition process, Ms Ndudzo instituted an audit and valuation of the cinema’s assets that was conducted on April 29, 2026, by Golden Gate Valuers and Risk Assessors Private Limited.
The State alleges that on May 29, Taruvinga, who was employed as the cinema manager and was aware of the buyout agreement, began removing some of the assets from the premises without Ms Ndudzo’s knowledge or consent.
It is further alleged that on May 31, Hutchings instructed Taruvinga to remove additional property from the cinema. However, security personnel at Sam Levy’s Village intercepted a truck carrying the assets before it could leave the premises.
During the handover process on June 1, which was conducted in the presence of Ms Ndudzo’s lawyer, Advocate Arthur Marara and Hutchings’ lawyer Kerry Stone, a significant number of assets were allegedly found to be missing.
The court heard that the missing items were brought to the attention of Hutchings’ legal representative, who had left before the handover exercise was completed.
A subsequent inventory of the missing assets was compiled by Ms Ndudzo, who then reported the matter at Borrowdale Police Station on June 11, leading to investigations and the arrest of Hutchings on June 17.
Hutchings implicated Taruvinga, claiming she had only instructed him to remove what she considered to be her personal property from the cinema while she was out of the country.
Taruvinga was later arrested in connection with the matter.
The State intends to rely on the separation and settlement agreement, valuation reports, proof of payment and the inventory of missing assets as evidence during trial.
The court heard that none of the allegedly stolen property valued at US$34 980 has been recovered.
