AAG Vice President on the run over $250k theft

By Tendai Kamhungira

HARARE – Affirmative Action Group (AAG) vice president Elizabeth Nyathi who is accused of stealing more than $250 000 worth of maize seeds from a government seed production company is on the run.

Nyathi, the director of Laksem (Pvt) Limited is facing theft charges after she allegedly stole seeds from Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda). Harare regional magistrate Fadzai Mthombeni yesterday issued an arrest warrant against Nyathi whom she previously fined $50 for absconding court in May this year.

The matter was supposed to proceed to defence yesterday, but was stalled by Nyathi’s absence. When she absconded in May, prosecutor Michael Reza told the court: “This is not the first time that this accused person has wilfully defaulted court and she was previously incarcerated for it.”

Allegations by prosecutor Reza are that Nyathi stole seeds that she had been entrusted to sell on behalf of Arda. According to state papers, Nyathi had approached Arda during the 2010’s Harare Agricultural Show after becoming aware the seed firm wanted a sales agent in Mutare.

She allegedly visited Arda Borrowdale offices during the same month, where an agreement was reached authorising Nyathi to sell the seeds on behalf of the company. According to the agreement Nyathi would be supplied with seeds which she would sell and remit proceeds within 14 days to Arda, the court was told.

The court heard Nyathi was given seeds worth $327 500 and after she sold part of the consignment, did not remit any money to Arda. The court heard that after Arda officials realised Nyathi had not remitted the proceeds, they went to Mutare where they only managed to recover 30 tonnes of seeds valued at $49 040. Daily News