UZ student in Z$90m theft of sim cards
A University of Zimbabwe Social Work student on attachment was today dragged to Chipinge Magistrate Court for allegedly colliding with some friends in stealing 53 net One lines meant to benefit the aged in the community.
The sim cards were meant to cushion the aged against the.effects of the.Covid 19 induced lockdown through the provision of an allowance to purchase basic necessities.
The stolen SIM cards had an estimated value of about $90 100 000. The.theft occurred rom the period of October 21, 2020 to May 4, 2021.
Tatenda Manhimhanzi (22) who is turning 23 this month and was preparing for a heavy birthday party this weekend is the alleged mastermind of the scam.
She resides at Coffee Research Government Farm in Chipinge, Chipinge and is n attaché at the Department of Social Welfare in Chipinge.
The complainant is the Ministry of Social Welfare represented by Raphael Zongoro (54) a male residing at house number NHF 17 Gapa Chipinge and is employed as a District Social Development Officer.
Sources said Tatenda is but the first one among the trio involved in the scam to be arrested. The other are yet to be nabbed.
She is being charged with the crime of: Theft as defined in Section 113(2)(d) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform )Act Chapter 9;23.
Allegations have it that, on the date not known but from the period extending from October 21, 2020 to April 4 2021 at Department of Social Welfare office block A Chipinge Government Complex, the accused person unlawfully and intentionally stole 53 NetOnes cellphones lines which were registered on Netone mobile money which was trust property, from Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare Manicaland Office.
These lines were held for the sole purpose of handing over to beneficiaries.
Each line was registered on One Money mobile bank and was deposited with $1 700
The accused person used the lines to transfer money of beneficiaries to one line of another beneficiary.
However on May 4 a tip off was given to Chipinge Detectives specifically to Detective Sergeant Antonio to the effect that the accused person who was a receptionist at Social Development office stole the 53 lines on several different occasions from March 24 to April 13.
The accused person went on to transfer $78 200-00 from 46 lines into Gladys Sithole’s line (0715800404) to which she is also a beneficiary whose line went missing.
As if that was not enough, the accused person transferred that amount yet to another person by the name Jamees Mudimu (0713 184 920). The money was deposited in different batches on several occasions.
The accused then went on to receive cash from James Mudimu.
She again transferred $ 2 850-00 on March to Tinashe Sthole (07146066677) .
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