Online Reporter
Court Correspondent
A HARARE man, who is already on trial in a kidnapping case, has appeared in court on fresh allegations of defrauding his former employer of US$10 811.
Simbarashe Emmanuel Martin Rondozai (38), a former accounts manager at Wellcash Debt Collectors, appeared before Harare Provincial Magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo facing a charge of theft of trust property.
The matter was postponed to August 14 for possible trial date allocation.
It is alleged that between March and December 2024, Rondozai converted to his own use US$10 811 that had been recovered from debtors on behalf of the company’s clients. Nothing has been recovered.
The complainant is Wellcash Debt Collectors, represented by Mr Cephas Ngorima.
Prosecutor Mr Takudzwa Jambawo told the court that Rondozai’s duties included collecting debts on behalf of clients and ensuring that all recovered funds were deposited into the company’s ZB Bank trust account before being remitted to the respective creditors.
The State alleges that instead of depositing the money into the trust account, Rondozai misappropriated the funds for personal use.
It is alleged that on one occasion, debt collector David Matanda withdrew US$8 811 from his EcoCash account and handed the cash to Rondozai for deposit into the company’s ZB Bank account.
However, Rondozai allegedly failed to make the deposit.
The court heard that Matanda later received a further US$400 from a debtor through Mukuru, which he also handed over to Rondozai.
On separate occasions, he allegedly received another US$400 from Chicken Launch and US$300 from a debtor identified as Chaluwa, and similarly entrusted the money to Rondozai for banking.
In another incident, debt collector Lancelot Muswere allegedly informed Rondozai that he had recovered US$300 from a debtor.
Rondozai is said to have instructed Muswere to transfer the money via EcoCash to a mobile number registered in the name of his mother, Mrs Mercy Rondozai.
The State alleges that the money was never deposited into the company’s trust account and was instead converted to Rondozai’s personal use.
