South Africa-based Zimbabwean transporter, Elton Makuwire, was last week arrested and charged with theft of trust property after he allegedly stole 122 bales of cotton lint valued at $66 128.
Makuwire (28), who operates Transport Solutions, a company based in Waterfalls together with his brother, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei last Friday.
The complainant in the matter was cited in court papers as Insburg Freight Logistics, a company which transports goods on behalf of clients through hiring of trucks.
It is alleged on August 6, Insburg Freight contracted GR Logistics through one Musa Sagita, who is still at large, to transport 122 bales of cotton lint from Cottco Sanyati.
The State alleges Sagita connived with Makuwire to steal the cotton lint.
Makuwire is alleged to have assigned his driver, Wiseman Gombingo, to collect the cotton bales from Cottco Sanyati.
Makuwire allegedly accompanied Gombingo to South Africa where the cotton was supposed to be delivered to a company called Icon Carriers, based in Johannesburg.
However, while in South Africa, Makuwire is alleged to have misrepresented to Gombingo that Insburg Freight had instructed him not to deliver the load to Icon Carriers because their warehouses were full.
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Makuwire allegedly instructed the driver to park at Pomona Truck and wait for further instructions. After four days Makuwire is said to have taken the truck from Gombingo after indicating he wanted to have a satellite-tracking system installed on the truck.
It is alleged Makuwire went away with the truck and offloaded the cotton lint at an unknown place.
He then returned to Gombingo after four days and took him to a town called Benoni where they found the empty truck parked by the roadside.
Makuwire then instructed Gombingo to go and take a load at Alberton which was destined for Zimbabwe.
Insburg Freight Logistics reported the theft to the police, leading to Makuwire’s arrest upon his return from South Africa.
