Two ZPC Hwange employees arrested in US$3.8m theft case exposed by CCTV
HWANGE – Two senior employees of the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) in Hwange have been arrested and are facing charges of theft involving company property valued at approximately US$3.8 million.
The suspects, Tawanda Mhaka and Ruth Chiyani, appeared in court and have been remanded until September 26. A third accomplice, Hardlife Zimwenje, is currently at large.
The arrests followed an investigation that revealed the theft of 15 electric motors, 48 tonnes of brass pipes, and a metal container.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), CCTV footage from the Turbine Hall captured a truck loading the stolen goods on August 22 and 23, 2025, without proper authorization.
Chiyani, a Loss Control Assistant, is accused of overseeing the unauthorised loading and failing to provide the required invoices.
Mhaka, a Stores Officer, is alleged to have instructed a boilermaker to cut up some of the items to facilitate their loading onto hired haulage trucks. The trucks were reportedly arranged by Zimwenje.
Investigators have cited substantial evidence against the pair, including the CCTV footage and signed removal authority documents.
“This case serves as a clear example of the accountability required of those entrusted with national assets. Economic sabotage will be thoroughly investigated and those responsible will face serious consequences,” the NPA stated.
In another case, Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Supply Chain Manager, Obert Safuli Zhoya, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after being convicted of criminal abuse of duty as a public officer.
Zhoya, aged 58, was found guilty of attempting to illegally sell 599 bags of fertilizer that were designated for a government-led farmer swap program.
The case originated in May 2024 when the fertilizer, Compound D Superfert, was transferred to the GMB Mt Hampden Depot. On May 9, 2025, Zhoya hatched a plan to sell the bags to a company, Madamara Investments (Pvt) Ltd, for a total of US$600.
This price was a fraction of the fertilizer’s actual value of US$19,168. To make the sale appear legitimate, Zhoya instructed GMB staff to process a false receipt and deposit the money into the GMB account, claiming the fertilizer was “written-off” stock.
The scheme was uncovered during a verification process by the Mt Hampden Depot Manager, who discovered that the fertilizer was in good condition and had no disposal certificates.
The transaction was promptly blocked, leading to an investigation. It was confirmed that the fertilizer was in fact intended for grain-for-fertilizer swaps with local farmers.
Zhoya was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Twelve months of the sentence were suspended on the condition of good behaviour, meaning he will serve an effective 12 months behind bars.
