Three employees of Banket District Hospital have been sentenced to 24 months effective jail time each after being convicted of stealing US$19,000 meant for the hospital’s Health Services Fund.

The offenders, identified as clerks James Koroni (56) and Marlon Kaguda (37), and accounting assistant Lackson Dzeka (55)—were convicted by the Banket Magistrates’ Court for theft of trust property.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, the crime took place between the 27th of December 2024 and the 17th of March 2025.

“The trio received daily cash revenue from the hospital’s Outpatients Department but deliberately failed to deposit the funds into the official bank account.”

” Instead, they attempted to cover their tracks by falsely recorded entries in the cash book indicating that the money had been banked.” Reads the statement.

The dishonest scheme was uncovered after a routine records check revealed irregularities which prompted a full audit by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, which subsequently confirmed that the full US$19,000 had gone missing.

The prosecuting authority also revealed that none of the stolen funds have been recovered.

The court sentenced the trio to 36 months imprisonment each, with 12 months suspended on condition of good behaviour, resulting in an effective 24-month custodial sentence for all three.