Online Reporter
Moreblessing Ncube
A TRUSTED supervisor allegedly turned Sizalabo Butchery in Mzilikazi suburb into his personal braai stand and cash point after mountains of meat and thousands of dollars mysteriously vanished under his watch.
Bhekizitha Moyo (35) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Vimbai Chirai facing charges of embezzlement after he allegedly converted butchery stock and cash for his own use. He was remanded out of custody until 24 December.
The complainant is Charter Arms Private Limited, trading as Sizalabo Butchery in Mzilikazi, represented by director Terrence Hill, who told police that the meat business was slowly bleeding dry from the inside.
Between 2 January and 20 November 2024, the court heard, Moyo was a supervisor and entrusted with overseeing 7 755 kilogrammes of beef and pork.
According to the State, the figures revealed a meaty mystery. There was a discrepancy of 1 119 kilogrammes of beef and 1 698 kilogrammes of pork, which Moyo allegedly converted to his own use. By the time the scales stopped tipping, meat worth US$19 728,31 had allegedly walked out of the butchery without paying.
The missing meat saga was uncovered by Hill, who reported the matter to the police, leading to Moyo’s arrest. Nothing has been recovered.
Unfortunately, the butcher’s nightmare did not end at the chopping block.
In a second count, the court heard that between 6 July and 20 November, Moyo allegedly sold beef and pork stock and raised about US$103 772 in cash. When it was time to hand over the money, only US$95 042 was tendered.
The missing balance of US$8 729,88 allegedly followed the meat, straight into Moyo’s personal pocket.
Once again, the complainant detected the discrepancy, filed another police report and the law caught up with the supervisor whose books allegedly did more cooking than the meat.
In total, the State alleges that Moyo helped himself to meat and cash worth thousands of dollars, leaving Sizalabo counting losses and unanswered questions.
