By Takudziridzwa Nyama
Austin Dube, a registrar at the Chipinge Civil Registry Office, has been sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted of stealing USD $7,385. Dube was found guilty of two counts of theft of trust property, violating section 113(2)(d) of the Criminal Law [Codification and Reform] Act Chapter 9:23. The conviction and sentencing were handed down by the Chipinge Magistrate Court.
According to reports from the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the investigation into Dube’s activities was initiated by the Provincial Registrar for Manicaland Province, who noticed discrepancies in the financial records of his office.
Following her directive, an investigation revealed that Dube failed to account for USD $4,115 collected from their sub-offices.
Dube had been entrusted with registry revenue collection fees amounting to USD $6,793, along with a deposit slip for banking purposes provided by the accountant.
He instructed the accountant to collect revenue from the sub-offices, but the money was never deposited. The accountant managed to collect a total of USD $2,586 from these sub-offices.
On August 31, 2024, Dube visited the accountant’s office carrying a black plastic bag, which he asked the accountant to open and count. Inside the bag was only USD $3,523, significantly less than the USD $6,793 he had been given on August 28, 2024.
Dube insisted that the accountant write a new deposit slip reflecting the initial amount of USD $6,793 along with the USD $2,586 she had collected. When she refused to comply, the accountant reported the incident to the Provincial Registrar.
A police report was subsequently filed, leading to Dube’s arrest. The total amount stolen was confirmed to be USD $7,385, and unfortunately, none of the stolen funds have been recovered.