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Fungai Lupande Court Reporter
A Petrograde marketing executive, Forbes Madzima (46) allegedly hired people to kill the company’s auditor after he embezzled $137 000.

This was an attempt to conceal the theft.

Madzima appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Noel Mupeiwa last week charged with incitement to commit murder.

He was remanded in custody to January 25.

The complainant is Dakarai Mukuku (43) of Glen View 1 Extension, Harare.

Prosecuting, Mr Michael Reza alleged that at the end of November last year Madzima approached his uncle, Farai Saborari, at his workplace at Zimtiles in Southerton.

He asked Saborari to look for hitmen “who could make people disappear”.

Madzima told Saborari the person he wanted killed was cruel and had caused many people to lose their jobs at Petrotrade, formerly NOCZIM.

It is alleged Madzima showed Saborari a picture of his intended target, Mukuku and his vehicle registration number ADX 7525.

The court heard that Saborari recruited his young brother, Fradreck Saborari, and Simbarashe Edmond Machokoto.

The trio agreed not to kill Mukuku but still get money from Madzima.

In December last year, Machokoto and brothers Farai and Fradreck met Madzima at his Petrotrade office.

Madzima furnished them with more information about Mukuku.

He gave the trio $50 for fuel to hunt down their target.

Madzima later paid the trio $1 700 to induce them to kill Mukuku.

The money was in batches of $600, $600 and $450.

When Madzima realised that Mukuku was still alive he allegedly pressured the trio to carried out the murder.

The trio later reported Madzima to police, leading to his arrest.

Police investigations revealed that Madzima had been asked by Mukuku to account for $137 437, 60 of company money which was missing.

The money was discovered missing during reconciliation.

It is alleged that Madzima promised to compile a financial report and account for the money, but never did so.

Instead, he allegedly hatched a plot to eliminate Mukuku.