Harare – Pilfering of goods by workers is an ongoing headache for some businesses in Zimbabwe \u2013 and even First Lady Grace Mugabe hasn’t been spared.<\/p>\n
Ten workers from Mugabe’s Alpha Omega Dairy in Mazowe in central Zimbabwe have been arrested for allegedly stealing goods due for sale this month, the state-controlled The Chronicle newspaper reported this weekend.<\/p>\n
It’s not yet clear what exactly was stolen from the dairy, which is one of the biggest in the sub-Saharan region.<\/p>\n
It manufactures milk, ice-cream, yoghurt, chocolate, fruit juices and sour milk, all at prices noticeably cheaper than its closest Zimbabwean competitors.<\/p>\n
The story in The Chronicle said the value of the stolen goods was $704.50. At least one online commentator pointed out that the figure did not sound like much.<\/p>\n
But then the president claimed two months ago that the dairy’s parent company, Gushungo Holdings, was struggling under a $20m debt.<\/p>\n
‘Looting it dry’<\/p>\n
The Zimbabwe Independent reported in October that Grace Mugabe was “fuming over huge losses” at her dairy and believed some managers were “loot[ing] it dry.” President Robert Mugabe, himself, has also recently spoken angrily about stealing taking place at the dairy.<\/p>\n
In the case reported by The Chronicle, a factory manager, a number of warehouse assistants and a security guard were alleged to have loaded extra goods onto delivery trucks which were taking stock from Mazowe to a depot in Harare.<\/p>\n
The extra goods were then sold on and the profits shared between the 10 suspects, the paper said.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, the Daily News reported that a 38-year-old worker from the dairy was tortured by police after he was arrested on allegations that he helped defraud the firm of more than $132 000.<\/p>\n
A Bulawayo warehouse belonging to the dairy was hit by armed robbers in October last year. The robbers took cellphones and around $1 000 in cash. One of them was later caught and handed a 17-year jail sentence.<\/p>\n
Source – News24<\/a><\/p>\n