HARARE businessman and football administrator Vincent Chawonza has been left counting a loss of more than US$6,000 after two of his most trusted employees allegedly turned against him running a secret rival company right under his nose.
The accused, Kenneth Nyalugwe and Kennedy Chiwara, both senior staff at Open Gold Enterprises, stand accused of diverting business and stock to their shadow outfit, Fosterwell Investments, while still on Chawonza’s payroll.
The duo appeared before Harare magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai and were remanded in custody pending their bail hearing.
Investigations revealed how Nyalugwe allegedly sent a company quotation of US$6,468 to Superlinx Logistics then just days later issued a cheaper competing quote of US$5,000 under Fosterwell Investments, using Open Gold’s own printer.
When pressed to hand over his laptop, a company IT technician unearthed seven rival quotations tucked away in hidden folders.
The scandal deepened when Chiwara, who controlled the storeroom, allegedly refused to return keys, with a subsequent stock take uncovering the disappearance of 100 door cappings.
The alleged betrayal has not only cost Chawonza thousands but also dealt a blow to his firm’s trust and reputation.
