FORMER President Robert Mugabe has allegedly lost $10 000 to one of his accountants at Gushungo Holdings.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
The accused, Peter Bhibhi (34), was not asked to plead to the theft charge when he appeared before Harare magistrate Tilda Mazhande, who remanded him to May 24 on $100 bail.
Bhibhi, who is represented by Lucky Dube, was employed by Gushungo Holdings as Mwenevazvo Estates accountant.
Mugabe is represented by his head of security, Maxwell Murangwa.
Allegations are that between January 14 and 31 this year, Gushungo Holdings tasked Bhibhi to sell potatoes to walk-in customers, who had no bags to package the produce. The customers were asked to bring their own bags for a refundable fee of 25 cents per bag.
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It is alleged during that period, Bhibhi misrepresented to the company that customers had brought in 42 275 empty bags, prejudicing the firm of $10 568 and nothing was recovered.
The State alleges the offence came to light when Mugabe’s security team checked the records and discovered that there were no documents at the main gate to the estate or estate stores reflecting movement of empty potato packs in and out of the farm.
A report was made to the police, leading to Bhibhi’s arrest.
Linda Gadzikwa appeared for the State.
In another matter, the State yesterday said it had lined up 10 witnesses to testify in the case where Mugabe recently lost over 119 computers and accessories to a member of the Presidential Guard, Pepukai Zvakavapano, during a break-in at Zimbabwe House.
Magistrate Josephine Sande postponed the matter to May 3 after Zvakavapano’s lawyer, Tinashe Mbala, consented to the postponement.