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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
A First Direct International (Pvt) Ltd Gokwe depot supervisor and his deputy allegedly stole thousands of tonnes of maize, sorghum and soya seed worth $257 000 they were contracted by a seed processing firm to sell to farmers.

First Direct International is contracted by Seed Co (Pvt) Ltd to distribute and sell seed on its behalf countrywide.

Webster Zunzanyika (34) and Tichatonga Marega (36) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa charged with theft of trust property.

Prosecutor Mrs Tinashe Makiya alleged that during the 2015-2016 farming season, Gokwe depot received 497 150 tonnes of maize seed, a tonne of sorghum seed and two tonnes of soya seed for resale.

Zunzanyika and Marega only managed to sale 399 874 tonnes of seed and failed to account for 97 276 tonnes of maize seed, 0,37 tonnes of sorghum seed and 0,175 tonnes of soya seed.

The missing seed had a combined value of $257 215,38.

To cover their tracks, the pair destroyed the sales documents and Zunzanyika unceremoniously left the depot on November 7, 2015.

The offence was discovered on December 5 last year.