18/07/2026
: A Harare security guard who orchestrated the theft of US$160,000 from his employer’s safe after stealing office and safe keys has been sentenced to an effective three years in prison following his conviction for theft and unlawful entry. According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), 38-year-old Ishmael Stanley Chakomba of Mudzi was convicted by the Harare Magistrates’ Court after admitting to the crime, which occurred while he was employed as a security guard at Valiage Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd in March 2025. Prosecutors told the court that Chakomba secretly stole the company’s office and safe keys, using them to access the safe without causing any visible damage before making off with US$160,000. Shortly after the theft, he resigned from his job without notice, raising no immediate suspicion. The theft came to light in April 2025 when a senior company official opened the safe and discovered the substantial amount of money missing. Investigations revealed that the safe had not
