Manager on $12K theft charge

Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
AN assistant manager at Power Sales Stores in Gwanda was yesterday dragged to the courts on allegations of stealing nearly $12,000 belonging to his employers.Matthew Dzinavene, 32, appeared before Gwanda magistrate Olivia Mashava Mashaire facing a charge of theft.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody to February 4, for trial.

Prosecuting, Edward Ndlovu said sometime in December last year, Dzinavene went to work and did his duties as usual together with other employees.

He said on the same day at around 11AM, Dzinavene was assigned by the branch manager, Tapera Mubishe, to collect money from the till operators.

Ndlovu said Dzinavene complied and collected $5,000 which he later deposited in a CBZ Bank account in the mining town.

“On the same day at around 6PM, the shop was closed and the accused was assigned by the branch manager to collect all the money from the cashiers and he collected $11,907 which he took to the safe alone. The procedure is that he should be accompanied by another employee.

“On his return, he gave the branch manager the safe keys purporting to have put the money in the safe and they knocked off,” said Ndlovu.

The court was told that on December 27 at around 8AM, Mubishe together with other employees opened the store while Dzinavene was absent.

Ndlovu said on the same day at around 8.30AM, the branch manager assigned Servy Sibanda to go and collect the money from the safe.

She then went and opened the safe and discovered that there was no money,” the court was told.

Sibanda then returned and advised Mubishe that there was no money.

A report was made to the police leading to the arrest of Dzinavene.

Nothing was recovered.