COTCO ex-manager accused of US$42k fertilizer Thef...

COTCO ex-manager accused of US$42k fertilizer Theft

Michael Mashiri

A former area manager for the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe Zinhle Ndlovu, appeared in court yesterday facing charges of stealing Presidential Input Scheme fertilizer worth US$42 000.

Ndlovu, who was responsible for overseeing the Presidential inputs at the Mutoko depot, allegedly colluded with the depot’s former business manager, Praise Makombore, to siphon off the crucial agricultural supplies. Makombore has already been arraigned on similar charges.

The duo allegedly devised a scheme to falsely claim that they had received instructions to distribute fertilizer to farmers. On August 23, 2023, Ndlovu directed a field assistant, Moses Chibanda, to release a massive 1170 x 50kg bags of Compound L fertilizer from the Mutawatawa Transit depot. The fertilizer was subsequently loaded onto two trucks and transported to a warehouse near Murehwa Business Centre. Makombore’s vehicle is believed to have made multiple trips to the warehouse to collect the stolen fertilizer, the destination of which remains unknown.

COTCO suffered a significant loss of US$42 120 due to the theft, with none of the fertilizer recovered.

Ndlovu appeared before regional magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa and was granted US$200 bail. As part of her bail conditions, she is prohibited from interfering with State witnesses until the case is concluded.

The case has been assigned to prosecutor Anesu Chirenje, while Stephen Chikotora is representing Ndlovu.