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THE HERALD – The trial of a labour unionist accused of fraud after he attempted to arm twist a private security company into paying membership subscription fees for its employees has been set for February 13.
Godfrey Togara (54) the general secretary of a breakaway faction of the Private Security Workers Union (PSWU) is jointly charged with Jefias Musariri (67) an employee of the company.
The pair will face trial on February 13 after being remanded out of custody on free bail by Harare magistrate Winfilder Tiyatara.
Togara and Musariri allegedly tried to dupe Real Star Security into paying monthly membership fees for 51 guards after tricking them into joining their faction of the union which is based in Harare.
Another faction which claims to be the legitimate PSWU is based in Bulawayo and is headed by Gilbert Zhou as president and John Manyuchi as general secretary.
According to the State, Togara connived with Musariri to distribute membership forms to the guards for signing.
Musariri allegedly used his position to pressure his subordinates into signing the forms purporting that it was a directive from senior management.
Prosecutor Lynnet Gwarisa said using the forms as proof of membership, Togara proceeded to demand US$4,20 for each guard per month as subscription fees.
He allegedly claimed that the company had six months subscriptions arrears, putting the potential prejudice at US$1,285.20.
Togara and Musariri were flagged after the guards, who include State witnesses Sheilla Zigari, Joyce Nyamadzawo, Rona Masimbe and Lawrence Ruswa, later dissociated themselves from Togara’s faction of the union.
The company also discovered that some names submitted by the duo for the remittance of membership fees were not on its payroll.
Tiyatara ordered Togara and Musariri to reside at their given addresses pending trial and not to interfere with witnesses.
Online Reporter