The ManicaPost
Tanyaradzwa Mujati
Post Reporter
A NYANGA man who stole fertiliser worth US$44 075 from Zimbabwe’s diplomat to Tanzania, Ambassador Anslem Sanyatwe, was this week convicted after a full trial.
Evans Kamombo (57) had pleaded not guilty to the theft charges as defined in Section 113(2) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
He, however, was convicted by Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Richard Ramaboa.
Kamombo was remanded out of custody to March 6 for sentencing.
Prosecuting, Mr Nyasha Gerald Mukonyora said Kamombo stole 469x50kg of Ammonium Nitrate and 509x50kg of Compound D fertiliser and sold it to hardware shops in Nyanga.
Mr Makonyora said sometime in December 2021, Ambassador Sanyatwe who has a farm in Nyanga received a consignment of 640x50kg of Ammonium Nitrate and 560x50kg of Compound D fertiliser.
He assigned Kamombo to keep it safe.
“During the same month, Ambassador Sanyatwe instructed Kamombo to use 171x50kg of Ammonium Nitrate and 51x50kg of Compound D fertiliser at his farm.
However, Kamombo took some of the fertiliser and sold it to several hardware shops in Nyanga.
“When Ambassador Sanyatwe came back in August and conducted a stock take, he discovered that 469x50kg of Ammonium Nitrate and 509x50kg of Compound D were missing.
“He confronted Kamombo but the suspect failed to give a convincing explanation of what had happened to the fertiliser. A report was made to the police, thereby leading to his arrest,” said Mr Makonyora.
Fertiliser valued at US$44 075 was stolen and nothing was recovered.
