A 32-year-old Mutare based Econet Insurance agent Medeline Magadza who was accused of stealing ZiG 1 171 771.60 was acquitted after the State failed to establish a prima facie case against her.
Mugadza had been accused of theft of trust property, as defined under Section 113 (2) (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23).
It was alleged that Magadza failed to remit proceeds from Econet Insurance motor vehicle insurance policies sold to clients between June 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025, and converted the money to her personal use. Allegations she denied.
Magistrate Perseverance Makala ruled that the State had failed to prove the essential elements of the offence, as it lacked evidence linking Magadza to the alleged crime.
Emails and WhatsApp chat messages produced by the defence suggested an understanding between Magadza and her direct supervisor, which contradicted the State’s allegations.
Magistrate Makala further questioned the relevance of the State’s key witness, Gift Zumbika, who was not the immediate supervisor of the accused, and was unaware of the communication between Mugadza and her supervisor.
This was after Magadza’s defence had produced emails and WhatsApp chats showing that she had not failed to account for the money, but rather, there was an exonerating explanation and communication of what was happening.
The State, led by Tafadzwa Zulu, subsequently closed its case, and the defence applied for discharge at the close of the State case.
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