Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
A FORMER Petrotrade fuel attendant has appeared in court facing fraud charges after allegedly inflating sales figures at two service stations, prejudicing the firm of over US$3 000.
Mupanga Samuel Gurira (30) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Ayanda Dhlamini and was remanded to May 26 for commencement of trial.
The complainant is Petrotrade, represented by its loss control officer, Mr Tafadzwa Chaponda.
According to the State, Gurira was employed as a pump attendant at Petrotrade Warren Park Service Station and later at Petrotrade Skyline Service Station.
Prosecutor Mr Takudzwa Mutyavaviri told the court that on January 16, 2026, Petrotrade internal auditor Kudakwashe Chivavarirwa conducted a spot check at Petrotrade Skyline Service Station, where Gurira was stationed at the time.
The audit allegedly established that between December 24, 2025 and January 13, 2026, Gurira overstated Petrocard fuel sales by 240 litres of diesel and 175 litres of petrol, resulting in a prejudice of US$617,70.
The State alleges that Gurira inflated Petrocard fuel sales by entering false or exaggerated figures into physical drop sheets and computer driveways.
The discrepancies were allegedly detected through an examination of Petrocard system reports, drop sheets and computer records.
Prosecutors further allege that after being confronted, Gurira made indications linking himself to the offence and reimbursed US$620, which was deposited into Petrotrade’s ZB Bank account on January 16, 2026.
In a second count, the State alleges that another audit conducted at Petrotrade Warren Park Service Station uncovered additional irregularities dating from September 2, 2025 to December 14, 2025, when Gurira was stationed there.
The audit allegedly revealed that diesel sales had been inflated by 721 litres and petrol sales by 891,72 litres, resulting in an alleged prejudice of US$2 419,38.
According to prosecutors, Gurira used the same method of entering inflated figures into physical drop sheets and computer driveways, with the discrepancies being uncovered through a review of Petrocard system reports and station records.
The court heard that Petrotrade suffered an actual prejudice of US$2 419,38 in the second count and nothing has been recovered.
