The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
SCORES of Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officers and its netball team members will live to regret entrusting their fellow colleague with their savings after she failed to account for US$14 285.
The incident came to light when 36-year-old Maud Sibongile Chisoro of ZRP Rural Camp in Mutare was arrested on Wednesday following several reports made against her for deceiving members of a financial cooperative society.
A financial cooperative society is a common type of financial institution that is owned and operated by its members with the goal of making savings for the members.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the arrest of Chisoro.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said while some complainants had entrusted Chisoro with the society’s money, others had lent her their money.
All of them are yet to get their money back.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said Chisoro’s friend and workmate claims that she gave her US$4 080 on 17 December, 2022, but she never paid it back.
“The complainant — Daphine Garikai — said she was approached by the accused who wanted US$4 080. Since she had money from her pension pay-out at home, she gave her that amount.
“In May, the complainant asked for her money, but Chisoro failed to pay it back. Together with Nomatter Chikowore, they went on to start a financial cooperative society on June 27, 2023, with each member paying US$100 every week.
“Since Chisoro was the treasurer, she would collect the money from the members.
“The accused failed to give Garikai US$1 200 from the society’s money. As a result, Garikai suffered a financial prejudice of US$5 280,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Another correctional officer, Kudzanai Nyandoro, allegedly gave Chisoro US$200 which she promised to pay back after two days.
“On July 18, the accused person borrowed US$200 from Kudzanai Nyandoro but never paid it back.
“On the day she had promised to pay back the US$200, she pleaded with Nyandoro to borrow US$54 from the society, and this took this amount to US$254. Nothing was ever recovered,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said another complainant was duped of US$670.
“Another workmate of the accused person borrowed US$670 from a bank after the accused had pleaded with her to borrow her some money for her UK-bound son’s airfare. The same complainant also borrowed US$84 from their society.
“Chisoro did not pay back the money. In June, the same complainant gave Chisoro US$160 as a contribution to their society. In July, the complainant gave her another US$160. The accused person is said to have borrowed US$550 from the society under the complainant’s name.
“The complainant contributed from May to September 2023. In total, the complainant was deprived of US$2 300,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Another complainant, Pauline Chikonye allegedly lent the accused US$650 after she had pleaded with her for some money.
The accused went on to borrow more money from the savings group under Chikonye’s name.
Monalisa Usvisvo said a group of 27 people were each contributing US$10 every week.
The money was given to the accused as the treasurer.
The money was supposed to be shared at the end of June, but the accused kept giving excuses until the end of August when she only gave Usvisvo US$100.
A total of US$281 remains outstanding.
A ZPCS netball team member, Mercy Mahuma of Sakubva, Mutare, also says Chisoro borrowed US$400 from her in June and has not returned the money.
On October 1, Chisoro gave Mahuma US$9. The next day she gave her another US$10.
On November 3, the accused person transferred US$50 through a mobile money transfer platform to Mahuma.
A total of US$331 remains outstanding.
On May 18, Chisoro received US$1 300 which she was supposed to give to fellow workmate, Tanaka Makwanya since it was her turn to receive her dues.
Chisoro did not give Makwanya the money and converted it to her own use.
In June, Chisoro borrowed US$300 from Makwanya.
She only returned US$70.
