Story by Parvel Makona
A 38-year-old Harare man has appeared in court charged with theft of trust property after allegedly misappropriating more than US$10 000 entrusted to him for banking on behalf of his employer.
Simbarashe Emmanuel Rondozai, of Budiriro 5, is facing charges under Section 113 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The State alleges that between May 4 and December 23, 2024, Rondozai was employed as an Accounts Manager at Wellcash Debt Collectors under the supervision of Cephas Shingirayi Ngorima.
According to prosecutors, his responsibilities included receiving cash collected from debtors by the company’s debt collectors and depositing it into Wellcash Debt Collectors’ ZB Bank account.
It is alleged that instead of banking the funds, Rondozai converted the money to his own use and failed to account for it despite repeated demands.
Court papers state that the alleged offence came to light after several transactions involving company employees.
The State alleges that debt collector David Matanda handed Rondozai US$8 811 in cash on various occasions after withdrawing the money from the company’s EcoCash account. The funds, collected from debtors, were allegedly meant to be deposited into the company’s bank account.
Prosecutors further allege that Matanda transferred a further US$500 received from a debtor through a CBZ Bank account to Rondozai for banking. Another US$500 from a different debtor and US$300 from a company identified as Choluwa were also allegedly entrusted to the accused but were never deposited.
The State also alleges that on July 1, 2024, the company’s Head of Department, Lancelot Muswere, withdrew US$300 from the firm’s EcoCash account after Rondozai allegedly claimed he had no cash to collect from a debtor.
Rondozai allegedly instructed Muswere to transfer the money to an EcoCash account registered in the name of his mother, Mercy Rondozai, promising to reimburse it, but allegedly failed to do so.
Prosecutors allege that Rondozai misappropriated a total of US$10 811, with no money having been recovered.
Rondozai is also facing a separate kidnapping trial in another court.
The matter was remanded to August 14.
