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Harare Bureau
THREE Harare housemaids who allegedly stole $700,000 stacked away in a kitchen drawer will know their fate today, with a magistrate due to deliver judgment.Prosecutors called eight witnesses, three of which were the trio’s relatives, to testify.

Michael Reza, for the State case, told the week-long trial that Euna Tsekwete, 32, of Shamva, Rebecca Kawe, 28, of Zengeza 4 and Sheila Nyandoro, 30, of Unit K in Chitungwiza, splashed their loot on luxury cars and houses after the April 12, 2013, theft. Businessman, Jamil Farogh, of Belvedere in Harare, was in Gweru visiting relatives when the trio allegedly stumbled on the huge fortune.

Harare magistrate Hoseah Mujaya put the accused to their defence and the trio maintained their innocence.

They told the court that they are cross-border traders and that the money they splashed on cars and houses was from their husbands who got diamonds from Chiadzwa in Manicaland Province.

The court heard that Farogh had stashed the money in a kitchen drawer before visiting a relative in Gweru, and had left the maids to clean up the house – their daily routine.

Prosecutors say Kawe stumbled upon the cash and approached Tsekwete and Nyandoro who connived to steal all the $700,000.

Kawe allegedly took the money and hid it in the cottage, which they were using as staff quarters. The trio shared the money equally among themselves before leaving for their respective homes, according to Reza.

Farogh, returning from Gweru, is said to have discovered the theft and called in the police.

Kawe, Tsekwete and Nyandoro continued to work for Farogh, but later resigned. Police investigations led to the trio’s arrest.
At the time of their arrest, Tsekwete had allegedly bought two houses in Shamva, a Mazda 323 and had $8,500 in cash.

Kawe allegedly bought a residential property in St Marys, Chitungwiza, and a Mitsubishi Canter lorry before she squandered the rest of her share while Nyandoro bought a house in Unit K, Chitungwiza, and a Honda CRV.

Reza alleged that the trio bought the properties using other people to evade detection.