Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
A purchase department overseer with the Jehovah’s Witnesses Church has been sentenced to 18 months in jail after pleading guilty to stealing US$24 000 from the church.
Harare provincial magistrate Mr Tapiwa Kuhudzai found Blessing Chitiyo (37) guilty of theft of trust property.
Chitiyo was initially sentenced to 36 months in jail before six months were suspended on condition that he restitutes the money.
Another 12 months were set aside on condition of good behaviour. The State proved that between December 12, 2025, and February 12, 2026, Chitiyo allegedly sold various goods belonging to Jehovah’s Witnesses Church of Zimbabwe, Number 14 Beemaroad, Goodhope, Harare.
The court heard that the property includes Decolour-led display screens, armoured cables and other assorted items on the invoices to ABC Auctions and Zunde Auctions on behalf of Jehovah’s Witnesses of Zimbabwe and received cash amounting to US$24 207 from the sale of the goods on auction on different dates.
It is alleged that Chitiyo authorised various individuals working under his supervision at the Goodhope church to collect the cash from ABC Auctions and Zunde Auctions and the cash was handed to him.
According to court papers, Chitiyo failed to make documentation to support that the payment had been made after converting the cash to his own use.
An internal investigation was carried out and it was discovered that the accused person received the payment and failed to account for the money received and converted it to his own use.
Total value stolen is US$24 207 and nothing was recovered.
