National Foods Limited swindled of $13 000

A HARARE man appeared in court yesterday for swindling National Foods Limited (NFL) of more than $13 000 in a botched navy beans supply deal.

Richard Kwenda (43) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Josephine Sande facing fraud allegations.

He was remanded to October 26 this year.

Allegations are that Kwenda supplied navy beans to National Foods Limited valued at $13 320.

Part of the conditions before supplying the beans was to offload them at Crossbury, a toll milling manufacturer contracted by NFL to check the quality of the beans .

It is also alleged that Kwenda indicated to Crossbury that Sebastian D’aquino of Whirlwyn Trading was the owner of the beans yet he had identified himself as the owner to National Foods Limited.

Further allegations are that Kwenda went to NFL and produced a weighbridge ticket and invoice in the name of Atlas Gold to NFL buyer William Gumbira.

A goods received voucher was authorised and signed by the NFL unit manager and payment was authorised by the managing executive Nigel Waller.

NFL deposited the whole amount as payment to Kwenda into Atlas Gold bank account which he also signs.

The court heard that Kwenda lied to D’aquino that NFL had not yet paid, prompting the later to recall the navy beans from Crossbury.

In June this year, Gumbira went to Crossbury in Ruwa for a physical check of the beans after the May 2017 stock take had revealed a variance.

Gumbira was told that the navy beans were recalled and they no longer had them. Investigations carried led to Kwenda’s arrest.