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Source: Man jailed for exhuming aunt’s grave – herald

A 38-YEAR-OLD Goromonzi man has been jailed for six months after he dug up his aunt’s grave in a bizarre attempt to recover gold rings he believed she had been buried with.

Challenge Jasi pleaded guilty to violating a grave when he appeared before Murehwa magistrate Panashe Matongo.

Principal Public Prosecutor Mr Anesu Gwena told the court that Jasi exhumed the remains of his aunt, Rosina Dipazhi, who died in 2002 and was buried at Mermaid Pool Cemetery in Chief Chikwaka, Juru.

The court heard that on August 2, Jasi allegedly borrowed a hoe from his nephew at Chipunza Farm, claiming that he intended to collect traditional medicine from the forest.

However, he allegedly proceeded to Mermaid Pool Cemetery, where he dug up his aunt’s grave during the day in search of gold rings which he believed had been buried with her.

After exhuming the grave, Jasi allegedly removed several human remains, including the skull, ribs, tibia and fibula bones, as well as a green skirt and black petticoat.

He packed the remains and clothing into a sack before travelling to Harare.

The following day, August 3, at around 12.40pm, Jasi went to ZRP Highlands to make a follow-up on reports he claimed to have made earlier.

While he was being interviewed, Assistant Inspector Teredzerai Shonhai became suspicious and questioned him about the sack he was carrying.

Jasi subsequently confessed that the sack contained human remains, resulting in his arrest.

The court heard that his actions had resulted in the disturbance and desecration of his aunt’s grave.

The post Man jailed for exhuming aunt’s grave appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Council employees in ZiG5,9m fraud storm – herald

THREE Harare City Council employees appeared in court on Friday on allegations of defrauding the city of more than ZiG5,9 million through a scheme involving fake proof of payments and fraudulent entries on the council’s online payment system.

The accused are acting chief clerical officer Enias Muringami and cashiers—Melody Sevenzai and Lameck Chakwana.

They appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa and were each granted US$300 bail.

The State, led by Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe, alleges that between March 2025 and February 2026, the three connived to defraud the City of Harare through the use of fake proof of payments.

It is alleged that Muringami, who had authority to upload bank statements onto the council’s payment system, manipulated the system by creating fictitious deposits which were then made available for allocation.

According to the State, Muringami allegedly sourced ratepayers with substantial arrears and offered them an opportunity to clear their debts at a discount if they paid cash in foreign currency.

He allegedly uploaded fake bulk deposits into the RTGS system in the names of Adam & Co, Adam and Co Pvt Ltd, Vallage International, KR Enterprises, Frein Pvt Ltd, Alberline Enterprises and Dulwich Properties.

The State alleges that Sevenzai and Chakwana would then create and present fake proof of payments to senior clerical officers who had authority to process transactions on the online payment platform.

Once the fictitious deposits had been uploaded, the two allegedly presented the fake proof of payments for processing, resulting in the generation of receipt vouchers despite no corresponding payments having been made into the City of Harare’s bank accounts.

The fraudulent transactions allegedly benefited several ratepayers, including Centennial Trust, Omarshati Heirs, FM & M Omarshah, Shahine Pvt Ltd, L Mabhodho, Salamis Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Thelron Investments Pvt Ltd, GN Mabena, Manumite Investments Pvt Ltd, Quirad Investments, Shoprite Properties Pvt Ltd, HP Horstmann Bhikhubal & Sons Ltd, Rime Enterprises, Guard Alert Properties, M Chibvuri, Samson Antonio, Arab Investments Pvt Ltd, CM Chikwende, Tapiwanashe Housing Company, R Town House, Rodwell Gwaka, Financial Gazette, Straight Consultancy, Z.X.U. Pelyg, Tombreak Trading Pvt Ltd, Strarisc Pvt Ltd, P Morar Investments Pvt Ltd, Chedon Investments and Currajon Investments Pvt Ltd.

The State further alleges that senior clerical officers processed the transactions after relying on the fake representations by Muringami that the money had been deposited into the City of Harare’s bank account.

The officers would then allegedly allocate the fictitious deposits to the respective accounts and generate receipt vouchers.

Acting in common purpose, the accused persons misrepresented to the City of Harare that it had received revenue due to it, when in actual fact they had received the money in cash and used it for their personal benefit.

The council was allegedly prejudiced of ZiG5 912 214,50, which the State said was equivalent to approximately US$227 392,80 at the time.

Nothing was recovered, according to the State.

The post Council employees in ZiG5,9m fraud storm appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Members of the BRICS group of nations are discussing potential linkages between their respective fast payment systems and central bank digital currencies, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra said at an event on Tuesday (11 August).

The BRICS organisation includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, among others. India is hosting the 2026 edition of the annual summit.

“Cross-border payments is an area of interest for all of us, including the BRICS, because we feel there is a lot of scope for reducing cost,” Malhotra said in Mumbai.

“Various options are on the table, but it is still at the discussion stage, including CBDCs (central bank digital currencies) and linkages of fast payment systems,” he added.

Reuters reported earlier this year that the RBI recommended to the government that a proposal to connect CBDCs be included in the agenda for the 2026 BRICS summit.

The central bank will also continue its efforts to internationalise the rupee and promote the use of local currencies for cross-border payments and trade, Malhotra said.

The governor also said that the RBI sees artificial intelligence as a capability to be harnessed and not just a risk that needs to be contained.

“Indian banks cannot afford to sit on the sidelines and watch,” he said, urging lenders to inventory all AI models in use and establish board-approved AI governance policies.

Central banks globally have been paying close attention to lenders’ usage of AI amid worries over cyberattacks alongside operational and governance risks.

“Innovation and safety are not opposing goals; they are, in fact, complementary requirements of a durable financial system,” Malhotra said.

Source: BusinessTech

The post New fast payment system for BRICS on the cards appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.

HARARE — TM Pick n Pay returned to operating profitability in the year ended February 2026, supported by higher sales volumes, improved margins, stronger procurement efficiencies and tight cost management despite subdued consumer spending and a challenging retail environment.

The supermarket chain said disciplined execution of its business strategy enabled it to improve its operational performance while funding its expansion entirely from internally generated cash flows.

Revenue declined by 5% to ZiG12.3 billion, from ZiG12.9 billion a year earlier, but the retailer sold 6% more units during the period, pointing to stronger underlying demand and market-share gains in the second half of the financial year.

The increase in volumes was accompanied by higher customer traffic, although this was offset by a decline in average spending per shopper.

TM Pick n Pay also expanded its store network during the year with the opening of a new supermarket in Shurugwi, while its capital expenditure programme was funded without external borrowing.

A major shift in the retailer’s revenue mix was the growing contribution of US dollar-denominated sales. Dollar sales almost doubled to an average of 45% of total sales, compared with 23% in the previous financial year.

The company said the increased foreign-currency component of its sales improved procurement efficiency, strengthened stock availability and reduced pressure on working capital.

“In US dollar terms, operating profit reached US$2.0 million, reversing a loss of US$15.9 million recorded in 2025,” TM Pick n Pay chairman Fayaz King said in the group’s full-year results.

He said improved pricing discipline and greater stability in the operating environment had lifted gross margins, while management continued to focus on controlling operating costs and improving efficiency.

The supermarket division posted an operating profit of ZiG63.7 million, a significant turnaround from the ZiG516.3 million operating loss recorded in the previous year.

In US dollar terms, operating profit increased to US$2.0 million, from a loss of US$15.9 million in 2025.

Underlying profitability also improved substantially. EBITDA rose 49% to ZiG320.4 million, from ZiG215.1 million, while the EBITDA margin increased to 2.62% from 1.78%.

Measured in US dollars, EBITDA increased to US$10.1 million, from US$7.2 million.

The company’s after-tax loss narrowed by 49% to ZiG117.2 million, from ZiG228.5 million in the prior year. In US dollar terms, the loss fell to US$3.5 million, from US$6.7 million.

TM Pick n Pay said the previous year’s results had been affected by significant non-cash charges, making the improvement in underlying trading performance more pronounced.

The retailer nevertheless said its cost base remained under pressure, with several operating expenses still significantly above regional benchmarks. It said the government’s review of selected statutory and municipal charges could provide some relief if implemented.

The stronger performance was accompanied by a resilient balance sheet. The group said it did not utilise overdraft facilities or bank borrowing during the year, while US$3.2 million of capital expenditure was financed entirely from internally generated cash.

Hospitality business delivers stronger earnings

The group’s hospitality division also recorded improved operational performance during the year, although room occupancy remained unchanged at 39%.

A 9% increase in average daily room rates helped drive an 8% increase in revenue per available room, or RevPAR.

Profit after tax from the hospitality business increased to ZiG7.9 million, from ZiG1.5 million a year earlier. However, measured in US dollar terms, profit declined by 29% as higher operating costs weighed on earnings.

Following the end of the financial year, the group accepted an offer from its joint-venture partner to acquire its interest in the hospitality partnership.

The transaction remains subject to shareholder approval and the fulfilment of customary conditions, with the company expected to provide further details in a shareholder circular.

The results mark a significant improvement in TM Pick n Pay’s operating performance, with higher volumes, a growing US dollar revenue base and tighter cost control helping the retailer navigate Zimbabwe’s subdued consumer environment while continuing to invest from internally generated cash.

The post TM Pick n Pay Returns to Operating Profit as Sales Volumes and Dollar Revenue Rise appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.

HARARE – Police have confirmed the arrest of a man named John Travolta, 34, – though this one won’t be doing any dancing as a free man anytime soon.

Police said Travolta, together with an accomplice who remains at large, allegedly stormed a shop at Warren Park D shopping centre at around 7PM on August 8 armed with a pistol and disguised in balaclavas.

The pair allegedly threatened the shopkeeper and made off with US$3,813 and ZiG1,200 in cash.

But their getaway proved less than cinematic – members of the public gave chase and caught up with Travolta before police arrived.

Officers recovered part of the loot, comprising US$1,071 and ZiG775, from Travolta who is now helping police with their investigations.

The Pulp Fiction and Saturday Night Fever actor, 71, remains unconnected to the case.

 

The post John Travolta Arrested for Robbery appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.