Duo convicted of stealing sugar

Two Harare men, Enerst Gwetsai (30) of Glenview 1 and Forget Dzapasi of Glen Norah A, have been convicted by the Harare Magistrates Court for misleading customers by falsely labelling their sugar as 2kg packets.

The duo was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with four months suspended for five years on condition of good behavior. The remaining eight months were suspended on the condition that they complete 210 hours of community service. Additionally, they were fined US$100 for selling sugar without valid invoices.
The Scheme Unveiled

The court heard that the two men packaged brown sugar in packets labelled as 2kg, but the actual weight ranged between 1.243kg and 1.33kg. Their scheme was uncovered in June 2024 when police detectives purchased a case of sugar from a shop in Harare's central business district.

Investigations traced the source of the sugar to Gwetsai and Dzapasi, who were identified as suppliers. Upon questioning, they failed to produce any invoices or delivery notes for the sugar, further incriminating them.
State's Case

Prosecutors argued that the duo deliberately mislabelled the sugar to deceive customers, capitalizing on unsuspecting buyers who believed they were purchasing 2kg packets. This fraudulent activity not only violated consumer rights but also undermined fair business practices.
Sentencing and Reaction

Magistrate emphasized the need to deter similar dishonest practices in the market, noting the potential harm to consumer trust and the economy.

The sentence reflects the court's stance on fraudulent trade practices, with the community service component aiming to rehabilitate the offenders while the fine addresses their lack of proper business documentation.

Consumer watchdogs have lauded the ruling as a step toward curbing fraudulent practices in Zimbabwe's markets, urging authorities to intensify efforts to protect consumers from such scams.