Harare-based paint manufacturer Nash Paints has taken legal action against two of its employees, accusing them of stealing US$19,591 worth of stock from the company.
The accused, Chipo Brinia Mapfumo (32), a branch supervisor, and Takudzwa Gorejena (37), a branch manager, appeared before Harare Magistrate Mr. Isheunesu Matova facing theft charges. Both were granted bail set at US$100 each.
Nash Paints, represented in court by its Operations Manager Ms. Caroline Mundunga, alleges that the two employees manipulated stock records to conceal the disappearance of company assets.
According to court documents, Mapfumo was in charge of the Gazaland branch in Highfield, while Gorejena managed the Chikwana branch in Chitungwiza. However, between September 2024 and January 2025, they were both assigned to work at the Gazaland branch, where they were responsible for updating stock records for sales purposes.
Prosecutor Mr. Rufaro Chonzi stated that the duo allegedly colluded to underreport stock entries in the system compared to what was actually collected from the warehouse. This created discrepancies that went unnoticed until a routine check was conducted by Nash Paints’ Business Systems Manager, Mr. Nelson Tshabalala, in January 2025.
Following the discovery of stock irregularities, the company dispatched an audit team for a deeper investigation. On January 18, auditors uncovered significant inconsistencies in the stock management system, with findings indicating that stock valued at US$19,591 was unaccounted for during the period Mapfumo and Gorejena were on duty.
The two employees reportedly failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the discrepancies, leading Nash Paints to escalate the matter to law enforcement. To date, none of the missing stock has been recovered.
The case remains under investigation as the court proceedings continue.
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