A Border Timbers Limited storeman has been sentenced to an effective 12 months in prison after being convicted of fraudulently misappropriating 10 000 litres of diesel valued at US$17 782 through the manipulation of company records.
In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said Marimudzi abused his position of trust by manipulating internal systems designed to monitor fuel usage and inventory movements, resulting in the company suffering significant financial losses.
“The offender manipulated fuel issue records and recorded false transactions in the company’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to conceal the loss of diesel,” said the NPAZ.
The authority said the fraud was uncovered in July 2025 after Border Timbers management detected irregularities while reviewing its Daily Combined Power Report, a monitoring tool used to compare diesel consumption for generators against electricity usage.
“The offence came to light in July 2025 after company management detected anomalies while analysing the Daily Combined Power Report, which monitors diesel consumption for generators against electricity usage,” said the NPAZ.
Following the discovery of the discrepancies, the company launched an internal investigation that revealed altered fuel issue documents. This prompted a forensic audit and the subsequent reporting of the matter to the police.
“The forensic audit established that Border Timbers had lost 10 000 litres of diesel, while Marimudzi had also failed to account for an additional 3 303.60 litres valued at US$4 492.90, further supporting the findings of the investigation,”NPAZ said
The court sentenced Marimudzi to 48 months’ imprisonment, with 12 months suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. A further 24 months were suspended on condition that he pays restitution to the complainant.
He will therefore serve an effective 12 months in prison after the court considered the circumstances surrounding the offence and the conditions attached to the suspended portions of the sentence.
“The court sentenced Marimudzi to 48 months’ imprisonment, with 12 months suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. A further 24 months were suspended on condition that he pays restitution to the complainant,”NPAZ said
The NPAZ said the conviction serves as a warning to employees who abuse positions of responsibility and manipulate company systems for personal gain.
“The conviction highlights the consequences of abusing positions of trust. Employees who manipulate company records to facilitate fraud will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said the prosecuting authority.
The NPAZ urged companies and institutions to strengthen internal controls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent fraudulent activities, while warning that individuals involved in economic crimes would face prosecution.
