HARARE, Jul. 2 (NewsDay Live) – A former finance manager at Sprayteck Panel Beaters, who is facing charges of allegedly stealing more than US$88 000 from the company, has told a Harare court that the transactions were authorised and formed part of an arrangement to transfer money to South Africa through informal channels to pay suppliers.
Owen Chikonyora, who is represented by Liveours Mundieta of Mundieta and Wagoneka-Madzivanyika Law Chambers, is denying allegations that he stole US$88 554.15 from his former employer, Taicom Investments (Pvt) Ltd trading as Sprayteck Panel Beaters.
The State alleges that between December 2023 and March 2025, Chikonyora transferred company funds on 46 occasions into his personal Nedbank account and into the account of his company, Chilywen Investments (Pvt) Ltd, for services that had not been rendered. Prosecutors further allege that he duplicated salary payments into his personal account before the alleged offence was uncovered through an external audit conducted by Topline Reign Solutions.
However, during the trial, defence lawyer Mundieta challenged the company’s finance director, Raoul Savania, alleging that the transfers were made with management approval.
Mundieta told the court that Chikonyora would testify that he withdrew money from his account on Savania’s instructions before passing it to money changers for transfer to a South African supplier, Thiago Veloso of Ceramic Pro South Africa.
The defence further alleged that products were subsequently brought into Zimbabwe through informal means, naming an individual identified as Nomore Phiri.
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Asked to respond to the allegations, Savania denied them.
“No, the money that he took was meant for paying NASA pension, VAT,” Savania told the court.
The defence produced transaction receipts which it said supported its claim that money was transferred through money changers to South Africa to purchase company supplies.
The allegations regarding the use of informal money transfer channels, smuggling and money laundering were made by the defence during cross-examination and have not been proven in court. Savania denied the allegations, and the court has not made any findings on them.
Presiding magistrate Lisa Mutendereki remanded the matter to Monday next week for continuation of the trial.