Court Reporter

A 21-year-old cashier from Zvishavane has been jailed for an effective 18 months after he was convicted of stealing US$13,422 from his employer, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has announced.

Danda Tinashe Tinotenda, who was employed at Farm and City Centre in Zvishavane, was responsible for collecting cash from till operators for onward deposit into two ZB Bank accounts. However, between 16 and 24 September 2025, he diverted the money for personal use instead of making the required bank deposits.

According to the NPA, the offence was discovered when the company noticed that the deposits had not reflected, prompting an internal audit and a subsequent report to the police. Bank statements attached to the docket confirmed the missing funds, leading to Tinotenda’s arrest.

Tinotenda was initially handed a 36-month sentence by the court. However, 18 months were suspended, nine on condition of good behaviour and another nine on condition that he restitutes the full amount of US$13,422 by 30 November 2025. This left him with an effective jail term of 18 months.

The NPA warned that theft involving trust-based duties continues to undermine business operations across the country. Employers were urged to tighten internal controls, while employees were reminded of the importance of integrity in the workplace.

“Trust-based offences in workplaces continue to undermine business operations. Employees are called to uphold integrity,” the NPA said, adding that companies must put in place strong anti-fraud measures to curb abuse of entrusted funds.