Farm & City lose 39 fertilizer bags to receipt for...

Farm & City lose 39 fertilizer bags to receipt forgers

Munyaradzi Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

A 22-year-old man from Mbare has appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts facing charges of forgery and fraud.

Victor Vambe allegedly altered a receipt after purchasing one bag of fertilizer from Farm and City Centre and used it to claim and sell 39 bags of fertilizer. He was granted bail of US$100.

The State alleges that between November 14 and 15, 2024, Vambe, in collaboration with Lovemore Randa—who is still at large—visited Farm and City Centre at No. 1 Wayne Avenue, Harare. The pair purchased one bag of Ammonium Nitrate Superfert fertilizer and two bags of Compound D Superfert fertilizer and were issued a receipt.

Vambe reportedly forged the receipt to indicate the purchase of 39 bags of fertilizer—12 Ammonium Nitrate and 27 Compound D bags. Using the altered receipt, they allegedly collected the 39 bags from the store and transported them to Mbare, where they began selling them.

Police were tipped off about the operation and launched a sting. Officers posed as buyers, approaching Vambe at Matagarika Flats in Mbare and requesting 20 bags of fertilizer. Vambe claimed he had only 12 bags remaining and led the officers to another location from where he allegedly operated.

Farm and City Centre staff positively identified their stolen fertilizer, leading to Vambe's arrest. Police recovered 21 bags of Compound D Superfert and 13 bags of Ammonium Nitrate Superfert.