OK Zim staffers in court over US$28k fuel scam

Michael Mashiri

OK Zimbabwe Limited allegedly dismissed from work two employees who are alleged to have been involved in stealing fuel, leading to a loss of US$28 058.

Tatenda Mutombwa, 34, of New Mabvuku and Tinashe Ngulube, 34, of Southlea Park appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Courts accused of theft of trust property.

The complainant in the matter is OK Zimbabwe Limited, which is being represented by Wellington Makasi, a security and loss control officer at the company.

The State, through prosecutor Tawanda Nyandoro, alleges that from December 27, 2022 to January 28, 2023, Mutombwa, who was a transport clerk and Ngulube, who was a driver at the supermarket chain, came up with a plan to steal from their employer, OK Zimbabwe Limited.

Mutombwa loaded fuel cards with varying quantities of diesel allocated to bakery, executive and operations departments and gave the cards to Ngulube, who redeemed the fuel, loading it into drums before trading it on the black market.

The offence came to light after a tip-off resulting in OK Zimbabwe Limited instituting an internal audit which unearthed the theft 15 100 litres of diesel valued of US$23 454 and nothing was recovered.

The State, alleges that from December 28, 2022 to January 19, 2023, Mutombwa would load fuel cards allocated to bakery, executive, finance and operations and gave the cards to one Kudakwashe Kanengoni who was a driver and he would load the fuel into the drums and trade it on black market.

OK Zimbabwe Limited did an internal audit and it was discovered that the accused had stolen 3 000 litres of diesel valued at US$4 604 and nothing was recovered.

As a result, OK Zimbabwe Limited lost US$28 058 and nothing was recovered.