Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo-Court Correspondent
A 25-YEAR-OLD Harare shopkeeper has been arraigned in court on allegations of stealing 61 cellphones valued at US$6 280 from her employer, Mayfour Investments Private Limited.
Ashley Tariro Diza, who faces charges of theft of trust property and fraud, appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Michael Mafukidze, where she pleaded not guilty. She was granted US$100 bail and is set to return to court on February 26 for the commencement of her trial.
The complainant, Mayfour Investments, is represented by Tranos Chinotimba.
Prosecutor Mr Tinotenda Masimba told the court that the alleged fraud was uncovered during an audit conducted at the company’s shop, located at Gulf Complex in Harare’s central business district.
According to the State, on February 5, 2026, the complainant assigned Learnmore Makaya to audit the shop managed by Diza while he conducted an audit at another location.
During the audit, Makaya discovered a shortage of seven cellphones, including a Samsung A52, four Samsung A05s, a Samsung A05, and a Huawei Y9s, collectively worth US$605. When questioned, Diza claimed the error was clerical and requested additional time to review her records.
She was given until February 9 to reconcile the discrepancies.
However, on February 9, the complainant failed to reach Diza, who stopped reporting for work and later informed her employer via text message that she was in Mazowe.
Suspicious of her sudden disappearance, the complainant personally inspected the shop and found a Huawei Y9 cellphone concealed in a box for a Samsung S20. A thorough stock check conducted with Makaya revealed that 61 cellphones had been swapped with low-value models or replacement batteries.
