Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A 33-year-old company director appeared in court over the weekend facing theft charges after allegedly orchestrating a scheme that prejudiced Schweppes Zimbabwe of more than US$22 000 worth of Mazoe orange crush.
Tatenda Masawi appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo and was not asked to plead.
The complainant is Schweppes Zimbabwe, represented by its Senior Loss Control Officer, Admire Nhenderere.
The State alleges that sometime on January 25 this year, Masawi, who is the managing director of MSTATZ Private Limited — a logistics company based in the United Kingdom — made an enquiry to purchase 1 750 cases of Mazowe Orange Crush from Schweppes Zimbabwe.
He was quoted US$36 750 for the local market and US$21 205 for the export market.
Masawi allegedly misrepresented that the consignment was meant for the United Kingdom and proceeded to place an order for the 1 750 cases under the export arrangement. He reportedly paid US$21 205 for the order on January 31.
On February 14, the consignment was inspected and sealed for export by Zimra officials before being loaded onto a Mozambique-registered truck at Schweppes Zimbabwe premises for transportation through Forbes Border Post.
The truck, which was under the supervision of an agent acting on Masawi’s behalf, was expected to exit the country en route to the United Kingdom.
However, investigations revealed that the Zimra seal was allegedly broken in Harare a few hours after departure, and the consignment never reached its intended destination.
Authorities were alerted after the truck failed to arrive at Forbes Border Post, prompting investigations which implicated Masawi.
As a result of the alleged misrepresentation, Schweppes Zimbabwe suffered an actual loss of US$14 915 and further incurred a Zimra penalty of US$7 478, bringing the total prejudice to US$22 399.95. Nothing has been recovered.
Police say Masawi’s mobile phone was seized and forwarded for forensic analysis.
Mathew Masinge