daglous masveta
Zvikomborero Parafini
SHALOM Church Westlea Assembly lost over US$21 000 in tithes and offerings to an administrator who allegedly diverted the funds which she had been instructed to deposit into the church’s bank account.
Chipo Molly Machokonera was not asked to plead when she appeared before Harare magistrate, Isheanesu Matova, on Monday. Allegations are that between January 1 2023 to December 10 last year, Machokonora was employed by the church as an administration secretary.
Her duty was to receive and receipt money received for tithes and offerings from church congregants and bank part of the money.
Machokonera took advantage and diverted US$21 904, which she converted for her own use.
She then misrepresented to the church by raising fake deposit slips, purporting to have deposited the money at Steward Bank Joina City Branch in Harare.
She forwarded the deposit slips to the pastor.
On December 10, the pastor requested for a bank statement from Steward Bank and that is when he discovered that the money, which was purported to have been deposited by Machokonera, was not showing.
He then called for an internal audit which revealed the offence and a report was made to the police leading to her arrest.
The total value stolen is US$21 904 and nothing was recovered. Rufaro Chonzi appeared for the State
Online Reporter
