Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
[email protected]
THREE men from Bulawayo have appeared in court facing multiple theft charges after they allegedly used software to steal money from EcoCash account holders.
Mbongeni Dube (18), Nimrod Sibanda (20) and Delight Ncube (24), all from Nketa suburb, appeared before Bulawayo Provincial Resident Magistrate Mr Themba Chimiso facing six counts of theft.
The trio that was represented by Mr Tinashe Tashaya of Tashaya Law Chambers, was not asked to plead.
They were remanded in custody until Wednesday for a bail hearing.
Prosecuting, Ms Josephine Gurazhira told the court that on June 15, near a food outlet close to Tredgold Building in Bulawayo, the three allegedly used software to unlawfully access and steal funds from EcoCash account holders.
The court heard that Sibanda, Ncube and Dube allegedly stole US$1 669 and ZWG11 500 from an EcoCash account belonging to a complainant identified only as Moyo.
They allegedly went on to steal ZWG20 600 and US$75 from another complainant identified as Dube using the same method.
Ms Gurazhira further told the court that a few hours later, the accused allegedly used the same modus operandi to steal US$1 200 from an EcoCash account belonging to Blessing Gambiza.
The State alleges that on June 16, near Tredgold Building, the trio again used the software to steal ZWG2 100 from Peter Matsika’s EcoCash account.
“She said: ‘On 16 June 2026, near Tredgold Building, Sibanda, Ncube and Dube used software to steal ZW$2,100 from Peter Matsika’s EcoCash account.’”
The court also heard that on June 17, Sibanda and Ncube allegedly used the software to steal US$18 from Emma Chamunondirwa’s EcoCash account.
In another count, the State alleges that on May 31, Sibanda, Ncube and Dube stole US$340 from Edmore Maphosa’s EcoCash account and also took ZWG1 100 from Emanuel Chakauya.
According to the prosecution, investigations linked the accused to a series of thefts involving the unlawful transfer of funds from mobile money accounts.
The matter was postponed to allow the accused persons to apply for bail while investigations continue.
