Former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko’s family is being accused of “looting” cash from Choppies outlets countrywide without board approval.
Mphoko’s son, Siqokoqela who is a director for Nanavac Investments Private Limited, a local partner for the Botswana-registered Choppies Distribution Centre (Proprietary) Limited. Mphoko is accused of abusing his power to “loot” cash realised from sales at different supermarkets and replacing it with transfers. Another family member identified as Ms Nomagugu Mphoko is also accused of approaching various shops demanding cash.
According to Choppies chief executive Mr Ramachandran Ottapathu, the two are using threats of deportation on Choppies employees. Ottapathuhas approached the High Court seeking to bar the Mphoko family from taking money from the business and harassing workers. Mr Mphoko and Ms Mphoko have been listed as respondents in an urgent interdict filed at the High Court this week. In his founding affidavit Ottapathu says Mr Mphoko has embezzled $45 258 and has also extended himself unauthorised lines of credit, which have seen him misappropriating the company’s stocks and fuel amounting to $6 687,06. He has also transferred $7 000 from the company for his personal use. Ms Mphoko, who is not a director or employee of Choppies, is said to have demanded and collected $30 230 cash from various outlets in Zimbabwe.
More: Chronicle
Back to top