Jeffery Mubaiwa, the director of JEFFM Auctions, appeared in court yesterday facing charges of defrauding NetOne Private Limited of US$133,204 in a failed property disposal deal.
Mubaiwa, aged 47, was charged with theft of trust property when he appeared before Harare Magistrate Ms. Apollonia Marutya. He was granted bail of US$100 and ordered to report to the police every fortnight.
The complainant in the case is NetOne (Pvt) Ltd, represented by Rapheai Mushanawani. According to the State’s case, in September 2022, NetOne placed an advert inviting quotations from bidders registered with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) for the disposal of obsolete equipment, furniture, and vehicles.
In January 2024, Mubaiwa was awarded the contract to conduct the auction of the items under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDPA) regulations. The auctioneer was entrusted with the responsibility to sell the items and remit the proceeds to NetOne within 48 hours after the auction.
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The auction took place on July 13, 2024, with bidding conducted in United States dollars, as per NetOne’s instructions. A total of US$172,204 was raised, with US$113,450 from the sale of motor vehicles and US$58,754 from the sale of other items.
However, it is alleged that Mubaiwa failed to remit the proceeds to NetOne within the agreed timeframe. When the company inquired about the delay, Mubaiwa only deposited US$39,000 on July 23, 2024, leaving US$133,204 unaccounted for. It is alleged that Mubaiwa used the remaining funds for personal purposes.
Mubaiwa faces serious charges of theft, and the case is ongoing as authorities investigate further.
