PETRO-TRADE (NOCZIM) boss, Forbes Madzima, who allegedly hired hitmen to kill a company auditor to conceal an offence involving some $137,000 he squandered, appeared in court Thursday.
Madzima (46) of number 16448 Damafalls in Ruwa appeared before Harare magistrate Noel Mupeiwa charged with incitement to commit murder charges.
He was remanded in custody to January 25. The complainant is Dakarai Mukuku (43) of Glen View 1 Extension, Harare.
Prosecutor Michael Reza alleged that sometime at the end of November last year, Madzima approached his uncle, Farai Saborari, at his workplace at ZimTiles Southerton.
He asked Saborari to look for hitmen who could make people disappear. He told Saborari that the person he wanted dead was cruel and had caused many people to lose their jobs at NocZim.
It is alleged that Madzima showed Saborari a picture of the target and the number plate of his vehicle – ADX 7525.
Court heard that Saborari recruited his young brother, Fredrick and one Simbarashe Edmond Machokoto. The trio agreed that they would not kill Mukuku but continue to get money from Madzima while purporting to arrange the murder.
Sometime in December last year Machokoto, and the brothers Farai and Fradreck met Madzima at his NocZim office. Madzima provided more information about Mukuku and gave the trio $50 for fuel to make a follow up on the target.
Prosecutors say Madzima paid the trio $1,700 to incite and persuade them to kill Mukuku. The money was in batches of $600, $600 and $450. When Madzima realised that Mukuku was still alive he continued to press the trio to kill him.
The ‘hitmen’ told the police about the incitement to kill Mukuku, leading to the arrest of Madzima.
Investigations revealed that Madzima was asked by Mukuku in November last year to account for $137 437, 60 in company funds. The money was discovered missing during reconciliation.
It is alleged that Madzima promised to compile a financial report and account for the money but failed. zimbabwean