Barbra Matora, 39, has been ordered to complete 420 hours of community service after being found guilty of ste@ling $25,796 from a church savings group in Harare.
She will carry out her community service at Warren Park Primary School in Harare.
Matora was the secretary and money keeper for the Anglican Church Rebecca Savings Club.
The court sentenced her to 42 months in prison, with 12 months suspended for five years on the condition of good behavior.
Of the remaining 38 months, 18 months are suspended if she repays the st0len money by October 31. The remaining 20 months will be served as community service.
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The prosecutor, Bonface Musvaire, presented evidence that Matora misused the funds she was responsible for managing.
In January 2023, St. James Anglican Church members formed the Rebecca Savings Club, where each member saved between $30 and $300 and paid a $5 monthly fee.
In December 2023, when club members were due to have their contributions paid by December 9, Matora failed to account for the money.
She was arr3sted for fraud on December 4, 2023. When the club representative, Nomsa Amin Nambale, questioned her, Matora could not explain the missing funds. Nambale and other members later found an empty cash box at Matora’s home with her sister.
As a result, the Rebecca Savings Club suffered a loss of $25,796.
