Marondera man up for theft of trust property

Michael Mashiri

A man, who was hired by Zim-China International Smelting Company as an interpreter who took the company's car and loaded 15 tonnes of Ferro-Chrome and went on to dispose it at an unknown destination causing the company to lose US$24 857, has appeared in court.

Kudakwashe Zimonte, 31, of Cherutombo, Marondera, appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Courts charged with theft of trust property before magistrate Munashe Chibanda.

The complainant in this matter is China-Zim International Smelting Company represented by its Director Lin Ou, 4, of Belgravia in Harare.

The State, through prosecutor Zebediah Bofu, alleges that Zimonte who among his duties was linking customers to the company through interpreting, driving the directors around the country and also buying raw materials in the form of Chrome, Silica, Coke, River and Pit-sand took advantage of the trust bestowed to him by Ou.

It is alleged that May 23, 2023 at around 2000 hours after everyone had knocked off at work, Zimonte booked out the company's pool vehicle.

He did this purporting to be conducting his duties and went on to load 15 tons of Ferro-Chrome from the company and went on to dispose it at an unknown destination.

Zimonte was spotted by his former workmates, one Forget and Brighton Muguza, loading the chrome.

When he was confronted by the two, he said that it was an instruction that had come from his boss.

He had not been sent to do that, as a result the company lost US$24 857 and nothing was recovered.