Mphoko's trial postponed

THE trial of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko's daughter-in-law, Nomagugu Mphoko, who is facing charges of extortion, has been postponed to January 21.

Nomagugu (36) allegedly ordered 15 Choppies Supermarket managers in Bulawayo to unlawfully dispense more than $30 000 cash from their Point of Sale (POS) machines after threatening them with either deportation or dismissal.

Nomagugu, who was initially jointly charged with her husband Siqokoqela, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Sithembiso Ndlovu yesterday facing 49 counts of extortion.

She is out of custody on $200 bail and will next jointly appear with her husband who is facing charges of allegedly hijacking the Choppies retail business and "looting" more than $50 000 worth of cash and goods from the outlets countrywide.

Prosecuting, Mr Alfonse Makonese said sometime in June this year, Nanavac Investments trading as Choppies Zimbabwe issued a directive to all its supermarket managers against giving out cash realised from sales to individuals whose arrangement is to replace the equivalent through swiping at Point of Sale machines.

The court heard that between 13 and 29 June this year, Nomagugu went to the complainants, some of whom are Indian nationals, and demanded cash during which she also threatened to either get them fired or deported if they refused to comply. She would then swipe the equivalent of the money received using different bank cards.

"Upon being advised of the directive against such transactions, the accused would threaten the shop managers with loss of employment and deportation from Zimbabwe. She would also tell the complainants that her husband is the owner of the company and that they were mere employees under his authority," said Mr Makonese.

The court heard that as a result of the threats, the complainants acceded to Nomagugu's demands and gave her the money.

"The accused person derived the advantage of easily accessing cash which is hard to come by. Her conduct resulted in loss for Nanavac Investments in that being a retail business, the company's outlets rely heavily on cash to pay critical suppliers, including arranging for foreign payments with local banks," said Mr Makonese.

The cash which was unlawfully collected by Nomagugu from the 15 shops amounts to $30 230.

The money was looted on different occasions from Choppies shops in Bulawayo's Central Business District, Luveve, Pumula East, Entumbane, Bellevue, Nkulumane and Lobengula suburbs. Nomagugu is being represented by Professor Welshman Ncube of Mathonsi Law Chambers.