Former Cashier Jailed After Stealing US$48,000, Fleeing to Zambia Under Fake Identity

A former wholesale cashier who stole more than US$48,000 from his employer before fleeing to Zambia and assuming a false identity has been sentenced to an effective six years in prison after failing to repay the stolen money.

The dramatic case came to an end after a cross-border investigation involving the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Interpol led to the arrest of 34-year-old Tawanda Manzinde, who had allegedly been living under a fake Zambian identity. Manzinde, formerly employed as a cashier at N Richards Wholesale in Rusape, appeared before Rusape provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe after being extradited from Zambia.

According to prosecutor Faith Mutukwa, the theft occurred between 17 April and 22 April 2025 when Manzinde was entrusted with US$48,445 and ZiG2,000 belonging to his employer. The money had been placed in his custody for safekeeping and was due to be deposited into the company's bank account after the Independence Day public holiday.

Instead of banking the funds, prosecutors said, Manzinde disappeared from work without informing his employer, prompting the company to report the matter to ZRP Rusape Central on 22 April 2025.

Police investigations initially yielded only a small recovery after officers searched his Rusape residence. Authorities recovered US$1,242 and ZiG1,440 concealed in a hole at the property, leaving the bulk of the missing funds unaccounted for.

The case went cold until June 2026, when investigators received information that Manzinde was living in neighbouring Zambia. The matter was subsequently referred to the Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) in Harare, which worked closely with the Interpol NCB Lusaka to trace the suspect. Investigators discovered that Manzinde had allegedly obtained fraudulent Zambian identity documents and was living under the name Charles Banda in Chirundu. He was arrested by Zambian authorities on 9 June 2026 before being extradited to Zimbabwe to face trial.

During investigations, Manzinde allegedly admitted spending much of the stolen money establishing a new life across the border. Court proceedings heard that he purchased two vehicles, a Honda Fit and a Toyota Daihatsu, opened two bottle stores, and bought a 25-by-25-metre residential stand, where he built a five-roomed house. Despite those investments, prosecutors told the court that only a fraction of the stolen money had been recovered.

Manzinde pleaded guilty to theft. Magistrate Mahwe sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, suspending one year for five years on condition of good behaviour. The remaining six years were conditionally suspended on the understanding that he would immediately make restitution by repaying the stolen funds. However, after failing to reimburse his former employer, the suspended sentence was activated, leaving him with an effective six-year prison term. The prosecution noted that property worth only US$1,240 and ZiG1,440 had been recovered, meaning most of the stolen money remains unrecovered.

Former cashier jailed for stealing US$48 000