A 29-year-old former Nando’s shift manager has been handed a 40-month prison sentence after being convicted of defrauding her employer of US$15,482.75 through a scheme involving the manipulation of sales records.

Cynthia Jongwe, who was employed by Simbisa Brands as a cashier and hostess before being promoted to shift manager, was responsible for operating the company’s GAAP point-of-sale system, processing customer transactions and reconciling daily takings with the duty manager.

Between July 2025 and February 2026, Jongwe processed numerous transactions as Visa or swipe payments, although the corresponding funds were not reflected in the company’s bank statements. Simbisa Internal Auditor Bruce Yusufu, as a State witness, told the court that a spot check on 11 February 2026 had uncovered discrepancies between transactions recorded in the GAAP point-of-sale system and the physical cash and merchant copies available at the outlet.

The court heard that Jongwe accepted cash from customers but recorded the transactions as swipe payments on the GAAP system. The money was then not deposited into the company’s accounts, resulting in a loss of US$15,482.75.

Yusufu gave evidence about the discovery of the discrepancies and the audit process.

The court heard that the investigation covered transactions processed between 9 July 2025 and 18 February 2026.

The court also heard evidence concerning GAAP system records, bank statements, internal deposit slips, login reports and authorisation records. The evidence showed that the disputed transactions had been processed under Jongwe’s user profile.

Jongwe’s defence was that passwords were widely shared among employees and that other people could have accessed her portal. However, the court rejected the explanation, describing it as unconvincing and unsupported by the evidence.

In its judgment, the court found that Jongwe had deliberately and fraudulently manipulated the GAAP system while occupying a position of trust as a shift manager. It concluded that she had systematically misappropriated money belonging to her employer over a period of approximately eight months.

The State argued that the offence was serious, carefully planned and sophisticated. Prosecutors said the amount involved was substantial and that Jongwe had abused her position of trust and the company’s electronic systems.

The State further submitted that a wholly suspended sentence would trivialise the offence and urged the court to impose imprisonment with only limited suspension.

However, the court also considered Jongwe’s personal circumstances. She was described as a first offender, married, the mother of two minor children and the sole breadwinner for her family. She had pleaded guilty and expressed willingness to make full restitution.

Provincial magistrate A.T. Maburo, sitting at the Gweru Magistrates’ Court, imposed 40 months’ imprisonment, divided into three portions.

Five months were suspended for five years on condition that Jongwe does not commit an offence involving dishonesty which results in a sentence of imprisonment without the option of a fine.

A further 24 months were suspended on condition that she repays US$15,482.75 to Simbisa Brands through the clerk of the Gweru Magistrates’ Court on or before 15 December 2026.

The remaining 11 months were suspended on condition that she completes 385 hours of community service at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Law and Order section.

Her community service is due to begin on 14 September 2026 and must be completed within 15 weeks. She is required to report from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays, working from 8am to 1pm and from 2pm to 4pm.

The court also ordered Jongwe to file the community-service form with the clerk of court within seven days of completing the required hours. Failure to comply with that order could result in a warrant of arrest being issued.

The sentence was handed down on 8 September 2026.