Massive scam at GMB

The fired employees (names withheld) are reportedly part of a syndicate made up of seven people who were recently suspended after auditors unearthed the scam.
A disciplinary hearing has been scheduled for month-end for the remaining five employees, while the fired pair is expected to appear in court soon.
Sources yesterday said the syndicate would go to remote parts of the province, especially Binga, and make out false receipts purporting to have bought tonnes of grain from farmers in the areas.
They would reportedly send the receipts to head office for payment when in fact no grain would have been bought. After payment, the suspects would share the money.
“Auditors are still working to determine the exact prejudice to the parastatal but it is believed to be about $400 000,” said the source.
The source said head office staff became suspicious about the frequent big payments that were being made out to remote places that are well known for experiencing severe droughts.
“The bosses became suspicious because of the amounts involved given the fact that these areas usually do not produce much as a result of droughts so they sent an audit team to investigate,” said the source.
GMB corporate communications manager, Mrs Muriel Zemura, confirmed the dismissals in a statement yesterday.
“The GMB has fired two of the seven GMB members of staff that were arrested on allegations  of fraud in Bulawayo and Matabeleland North province recently. The dismissal follows a disciplinary hearing that was held for the two staffers this month.
“The hearing for the other five accused has been rescheduled for this month-end at the            request of their legal representatives,” said Mrs Zemura.
She said the GMB general manager, Mr Albert Mandizha, recently directed the Loss Control Department to investigate cases of a fraudulent nature in Matabeleland North and Bulawayo provinces involving GMB employees and members of the public.
“The Loss Control Department, having identified the criminal characteristics of the case, invited the police, leading to the arrest of the seven GMB staff members. The seven are believed to have been working as a team,” said Mrs Zemura.
She declined to disclose the amount that was allegedly stolen by the seven employees, saying the case was now before the courts.
“We are not in a position right now to reveal the level of loss in terms of revenue. The matter is still sub judice and we fear it might jeopardise the investigations,” she said.
Mrs Zemura said the parastatal had a zero tolerance for corruption and would not hesitate to investigate and take action against any of its officials found engaging in dishonest activities.
“We therefore appeal to the public to report in detail these cases on our Hotline Number (04) 701898 between business hours or alternatively on [email protected],” she said.
Unscrupulous businesspeople usually take advantage of the shortage of food in many parts of Matabeleland North where they exchange grain for livestock.
At the moment Matabeleland North is one of the provinces in the country that have been earmarked for the grain loan scheme because of the food shortages, especially in districts such as Binga, Hwange and Tsholotsho.
The suspected scam has been unearthed at a time when many farmers are complaining about delays in paying them for maize delivered to the GMB depots in many parts of the country.