Two former depot supervisors at CAG Buses’ Highglen branch were each handed a six-month jail sentence after being convicted of forging company receipt books in a scheme that prosecutors said led to financial losses and reputational harm.
Two erstwhile managers at the CAG Highglen Bus Depot have been sentenced to six months in prison each after being found guilty of forging company receipt books in a crime that led to significant financial losses and reputational damage to the transport firm.
Christopher Zongoro and Lawrence Chakanyuka were arrested in 2024 following an internal investigation into irregularities at the Highglen Depot. The probe was triggered by the discovery of counterfeit receipt books being circulated among bus conductors.
The two were arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court, where they pleaded not guilty to charges of forgery. A full trial was subsequently conducted, during which the prosecution presented forged receipt books as key evidence, alongside testimony from the star witness who detailed how the crime was carried out.
During the trial, Chakanyuka admitted to issuing the fake books to the conductors. Zongoro, however, denied direct involvement, blaming Chakanyuka for distributing the counterfeit documents.
In delivering the verdict, the trial magistrate cited Section 137 of the Criminal Law Code, stating that the prosecution had successfully proven the case beyond reasonable doubt. The magistrate noted that there was clear intent to commit forgery, highlighting that the accused exploited their positions of authority and trust to facilitate the crime.
The State presented a prima facie case which the accused persons failed to sufficiently rebut, the magistrate ruled.
In their defense, lawyers for the accused urged the court to consider their personal circumstances. Chakanyuka’s counsel described him as a 43-year-old unemployed man, married with four children, with an education level up to O-Level. He argued that the forgery did not cause actual prejudice to the company.
Zongoro’s lawyer appealed for leniency, citing his clean criminal record and family responsibilities. They argued that Zongoro is married with four children, cares for his 82-year-old chronically ill mother, and looks after a disabled sister. They sought non-custodial sentence focused on reform and community service.
The prosecution stressed that the forgery was a premeditated and well-planned crime that involved a high degree of skill and sophistication. The accused were said to have abused their positions of trust within the company to perpetrate the fraud.
Although the prosecution admitted it was difficult to establish direct financial prejudice due to concealment of the fake receipt books, it emphasized that the company suffered significant monetary losses. These losses were compounded by operational disruptions, including failure to pay worker wages and frequent bus breakdowns, which damaged the company’s reputation and customer confidence.
To mitigate future risk, the complainant stated that CAG was forced to switch to an e-ticketing system, investing heavily in smartphones and printers for each conductor, incurring considerable costs.
The prosecution also referred to precedent cases, including State v Yu Yue, where factors such as prior planning and significant financial loss were held as aggravating. Additionally, S v Mhinga & Others was cited to underscore the seriousness of forging documents as a preparatory step for fraud.
CAG, as the complainant, made a victim impact statement describing the erosion of trust within the company and the strain on family relationships, given that both convicts were related to the company directors. The forgery led to unpaid wages and strained industrial relations, further harming the company’s standing.
The magistrate sentenced both Zongoro and Chakanyuka to 12 months in prison, with six months suspended on the condition that they do not commit similar offenses within the next three years. The remaining six months are to be served immediately.
In addition, the forged receipt books were ordered to be destroyed by fire, and the genuine receipt books were to be returned to CAG to restore operational integrity.
