Labour rights activists in foiled bid to dupe Real Star security company
The alleged fraudsters face trial on St Valentines Eve
Harare-REPEATED efforts to arm twist a private security company into paying membership subscription fees for its employees has backfired for a labour unionist who is now facing attempted fraud charges.
Godfrey Togara (54) the general secretary of a breakaway faction of the Private Security Workers Union (PSWU) is being jointly charged with Jefias Musariri (67) an employee of the company.Â
The pair will face trial on St Valentines Day Eve 2025 after being remanded out of custody on free bail by Harare magistrate Mrs Winfilder Tiyatara.
Togara and Musariri allegedly tried to dupe Real Star Security into paying monthly membership fees for 51Â guards after tricking them into joining their faction of the union which is based in Harare.
Another faction which claims to be the legitimate PSWU is based in Bulawayo and is headed by Gilbert Zhou as president and John Manyuchi as general secretary.
According to the State, Togara connived with Musariri to distribute membership forms to the guards for signing.
Musariri allegedly used his position to pressure his subordinates into signing the forms purporting that it was a directive from senior management.
Prosecutor Ms Lynnet Gwariisa said using the forms as proof of membership, Togara proceeded to demand US$4,20 for each guard per month as subscription fees.
He allegedly claimed that the company had six months subscriptions arrears, putting the potential prejudice at US$1,285.20.
Togara and Musariri were flagged after the guards, who include State witnesses Sheilla Zigari, Joyce Nyamadzawo, Rona Masimbe and Lawrence Ruswa, later dissociated themselves from Togara’s faction of the union.
The company also discovered that some names submitted by the duo for the remittance of membership fees were not on its payroll.
The matter was referred to Highlands police and the suspects were arrested.
 Mrs Tiyatara ordered Togara and Musariri to reside at their given addresses pending trial and not to interfere with witnesses.
