Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
THE sky did not fly for a young Harare driver who tried to turn company money into a jackpot on the popular Aviator gambling game, only to crash hard and land in court.
Edwin Ziko (23), a delivery driver and cash runner at Trinity Pharmacy , is accused of blowing US$3 753 and ZiG 400 after deciding that the fast-rising online betting game known locally as kandege was a better investment strategy than taking money to head office.
Ziko appeared before Harare magistrate Artwell Sanyatwe on two counts of theft of trust property. He pleaded guilty and told the court, chin in chest, that he genuinely believed his “luck was about to come”.
“I did not mean to steal. I thought I could multiply the money and return it. I was unlucky,” he said quietly.
Trinity Pharmacy’s human resources officer, Fidelis Chiwada, represented the complainant.
According to prosecutor Dzidzai Josiah, the aviation disaster began on November 5 when Ziko collected four envelopes carrying US$1 400 and ZiG 400 from the Karigamombe branch. He signed the cash-up receipt book but never landed the money at head office.
By lunchtime, finance boss Hama noticed the cash had not arrived. A quick call to the branch confirmed Ziko had indeed collected it. A quicker investigation revealed the funds had already taken flight into virtual skies on Aviator.
Sadly, the wings didn’t break there.
Later the same day, Ziko delivered medical supplies to the Hillside branch and confidently claimed head office had instructed him to collect cash. Staff handed him five sealed envelopes totalling US$2 353. He walked out, got into his vehicle, and once again allegedly redirected the funds into the fly or die betting app.
The result, once again was crash and burn. Not a cent recovered.
Trinity only realised the full scale of the disaster when Ziko could not explain where the money had gone. That is when the matter was reported to the police.
Ziko returns to court on Monday for sentencing.
Social media may soon roast him as “Air Ziko Airlines. No refunds. Only turbulence.”
