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Court Reporter
A Harare magistrate yesterday postponed for the second time, judgment of three domestic workers from Belvedere, Harare, accused of splashing US$700 000 they stole from their employer on cars and houses to April 30.
Euna Tsekwete (32) of Shamva, Rebecca Kawe (28) of Zengeza 4 and Sheila Nyandoro (30) of Unit K in Chitungwiza, who have been in custody since October 2012, pleaded not guilty to theft charges.

Judgment of the trio was initially set for March 28 this year before magistrate Mr Temba Kuwanda postponed it to April 23 indicating that he was not yet through.

Yesterday Mr Kuwanda said he had not completed penning the judgment and wanted to make sure that he does not make any mistakes because the matter involves a lot of issues.

Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza closed the State case after calling eight witnesses, three of whom were the accused’s relatives.

In their defence the trio maintained their innocence. They told the court that they are cross-border traders and that the money they splashed on cars and houses was obtained by their husbands at Chiadzwa.

The complainant in the matter is Mr Jamil Farogh, who on the day the money allegedly went missing had left for Gweru.

Mr Reza alleged that Kawe stumbled upon cash amounting to US$700 000, which Mr Farogh had left in one of the drawers in the kitchen. She allegedly approached Tsekwete and Nyandoro and informed them about the money before they connived to steal it.

At the time of their arrest Tsekwete had allegedly bought two houses in Shamva, a Mazda 323 and had US$8 500 cash.

Mr Reza alleged that the three bought the properties using thirdd parties to avoid detection.

Kawe allegedly bought a residential property in Chitungwiza and a Mitsubishi Canter lorry before she squandered the rest of while Nyandoro bought a house in Unit K, Chitungwiza and a Honda CRV.

Mr Reza alleged that the three bought the properties using thirdd parties to avoid detection.