Crime and Courts

UZ student mastermind Bikita Minerals US$64k fuel scam

BIKITA- A University of Zimbabwe (UZ) female student, Tadiwanashe Chitingwiza who was doing attachment at Sino Mine owned Bikita Minerals last year is part of a gang of 5 employees who allegedly defrauded the company of US$ 63 500 worth of fuel in March 2023.

The matter which appeared before Bikita Resident Magistrate, Rutendo Jakati on January 6 had been moving at a tortoise’s pace since it came to light on March 16, 2023.

The delay was caused by the defence counsel which include four top lawyers who were requesting the presiding Magistrate to recuse herself on the matter saying she had keen interest on the matter.

The UZ student was the only one of the group of five who did not have legal representation as some of her co-accused hired top lawyers to represent them.

Standing in for the state prosecutor, Richard Nyamuwomba told the court that on March 8, 2023, Vision Nyashadzashe Chigerwe (29), Tinashe Zhuwawo (37), Phedelice Masiiwa(58), Tadiwanashe Chitingwiza (22) and Darlington Matanga (39) hatched a plan to defraud Bikita Minerals of 40 000 liters of diesel which was to be delivered by Southern Diesel Pvt Ltd on that day.

Chigerwe, Zhuwawo and Masiiwa who are all stocks officers at Bikita Minerals connived with Matanga who is a truck driver of Blue Horizon trucks which had been contracted by Southern diesel company to ferry the diesel, and a security guard called Edwin Marecha a security guard.

The State further alleges that the trio diverted the truck which had a horse with registration number AEZ5401 and its tanker trailer with registration number AEZ4314 loaded with 40 000 liters of diesel to an unknown destination.

Chigerwe and Zhuwawo then processed a Goods Received Note with serial number 214146. The note reflected that 40 000 litres of diesel had been delivered at Bikita Minerals.

Matanga is said to have tendered his truck delivery note to Chigerwe and Zhuwawo who raised relevant invoices and supporting documents date stamped at security check point by Marecha who is still at large for authentication of delivery of the diesel.

Zhuwawo allegedly took the documents to the stores departments knowing that they were fake and Chigerwe, Masiiwa and Chitingwiza signed them before forwarding them to the accounts office for processing of payment to the supplying company.

The offence was discovered by the stores supervisor Gideon Chepiri on March 16, 2023 after they physically examined the diesel pits by dipping a stick.

The matter was remanded to 16 February 2024 for continuation of trial. The Loud Voice.

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