Zvishavane council manager faces 251 counts of theft

Raphael Karanda, a former Zvishavane Town Council (ZTC) beer halls manager is back in the courts facing 251 counts of theft, fraud and forgery.

A total sum of $75 000 is said to be missing.

Masvingo Mirror reported that allegations are that Karanda altered stock sheets taking either money or stock from council beer hall outlets.

It is the State's case that during a period from January 2014 to December 2015 when Karanda was ZTC beer halls manager he issued stocks for sale at various beer outlets.

Karanda allegedly checked stock sheets when delivering stocks to every council outlet. He was responsible for marking stock sheets provided by a cashier and he would take an original sheet leaving behind a duplicate.

After checking the stock sheets it is alleged that Karanda was responsible for the safe keeping of original stock sheets in his office.

According to the first State witness, Karanda was responsible for his office keys and keys to the safe where the stock sheets were kept.

Karanda was therefore solely responsible of shortfalls of stock or money as he was the one also responsible of banking money in the council account.

It is alleged that Karanda then altered selling figures recorded on original stock sheets to match with the amount of money he deposited in the bank.

He allegedly altered the stock sheets while in his office after collecting money from the cashier before going for banking.

The crime was however discovered after the outlets realised a huge lose and an internal audit was carried out.

Talent Tadenyika is prosecuting and the matter is before Magistrate Story Rushambwa.