Cashier Who Stole US$48,000 Caught After Girlfriend Reportedly Alerted Police
Cashier Who Stole US$48,000 Caught After Girlfriend Reportedly Alerted Police – A former cashier employed by N Richards Wholesale in Rusape has been sentenced to an effective six-year prison term after admitting to stealing more than US$48,000 entrusted to him by his employer before fleeing to Zambia, where he allegedly assumed a false identity.
Tawanda Manzinde (34) appeared before Rusape Provincial Magistrate Tendai Mahwe after he was extradited from Zambia following an international manhunt.
According to court proceedings, Manzinde stole US$48,445 and ZiG2,000 between April 17 and April 22, 2025.
The funds had been placed in his custody for safekeeping and were scheduled to be deposited into the bank after the Independence Day public holiday.
Instead of banking the money, prosecutors said he disappeared from work and fled the country.
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Prosecutor Faith Mutukwa told the court that police investigations initially led to the recovery of only US$1,242 hidden in a hole at the accused’s residence in Rusape.
“On the period extending from April 17, 2025 and April 22, 2025, Manzinde who was employed as a cashier at N Richards Wholesale, Rusape took cash amounting to US$48,445 which he was entrusted by the company to safe keep, and to bank it after holiday. Manzinde, however, took the cash, and fled from work to Zambia,” Mutukwa told the court.
She added that the matter was reported to Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Rusape Central on April 22, 2025, prompting investigations.
The court heard that authorities received information on June 4, 2026, indicating that Manzinde was living in Zambia.
The matter was subsequently referred to Interpol NCB Harare, which worked together with Interpol NCB Lusaka to facilitate his arrest.
Investigators alleged that while in Zambia, Manzinde fraudulently obtained a Zambian national identity card and changed his name to Charles Banda.
“On June 9, Manzinde was arrested by Interpol NCB Lusaka, Zambia… He had fraudulently acquired a fake Zambian identity card and had changed his names to Charles Banda,” Mutukwa said.
Reports presented before the court indicated that information leading to his arrest emerged after a dispute with a woman described as his girlfriend, who allegedly alerted authorities to his whereabouts.
During investigations, Manzinde reportedly admitted using the stolen funds to establish a new life in Chirundu, Zambia. He allegedly purchased two vehicles, a Honda Fit and a Toyota Daihatsu, opened two bottle stores, and acquired a 25-metre by 25-metre residential stand where he constructed a five-roomed house.
Manzinde was convicted on his own guilty plea.
Magistrate Mahwe sentenced him to seven years in prison, with one year suspended on condition of good behaviour for five years.
The remaining six years were suspended on condition that he immediately restituted the stolen money.
However, after failing to make restitution, the court ordered him to serve an effective six-year prison sentence.
The prosecution further informed the court that only US$1,240 and ZiG1,440 had been recovered, leaving the bulk of the stolen funds still unaccounted for.
