NEW: Private security workers union boss appears in court over fraud rap

Online Reporter

THE general secretary of one of two factions of the Private Security Workers Union (PSWU) has appeared in court after being arrested last week for attempted fraud.

Godfrey Togara (54), who is being jointly charged with Jefias Musariri (67), recently appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Winfilder Tiyatara for initial remand.

The two are accused of attempting to defraud Real Star Security and 51 of its guards through a suspected membership subscription fees scam.

They were remanded out of custody to February 13 on free bail.

The duo was ordered to reside at their given addresses and warned against interfering with witnesses.

Prosecutor Ms Lynnet Gwarisa alleged that sometime in June 2024, Musariri approached Sheilla Zigari, Joyce Nyamadzawo, Rona Masimbe and Lawrence Ruswa, who are employed as guards at Real Star Security.

He allegedly misrepresented that he had been instructed by the company’s head office to facilitate joining the PSWU.

Musariri allegedly received forms from Togara, which he distributed to the guards.

It is believed that Musariri used his position as a supervisor to pressure his subordinates into signing them.

Musariri allegedly handed over the forms to Togara, who proceeded to claim membership subscription fees from the company at a rate of US$4,20 per employee per month.

However, the company refused to remit the monthly subscriptions, saying it was not aware that its employees had joined Togara’s union.

Investigations revealed that the guards had not voluntarily joined the union but had allegedly been coerced by Musariri into joining the splinter union.

The employees claimed they were unaware that once they appended their signatures to the forms they would become union members as Musariri never explained this to them.

After Togara demanded six months’ subscription arrears, the company launched investigations, leading to the discovery of anomalies.

The company reported the matter to the police, leading to Togara’s arrest.

It emerged that Togara had allegedly incorporated 51 of the company’s guards into his union without their consent.

Some of the names submitted by Togara to the company were reportedly found to be fictitious.

Shingirai Ngorima represented the company in court and the potential prejudice was put at US$1 285.20.