Harare – A 28-year-old shift manager at Bakers Inn, William Gonese, has been convicted of theft after admitting to stealing US$3,420 from his workplace to fund online betting.
Gonese, who resides in Unit M, Seke, Chitungwiza, appeared before Harare Magistrate Lynne Chinzou and pleaded guilty. Sentencing is set for Saturday, January 4th.
The court heard that on a Saturday night last week, Gonese was entrusted with a float of US$3,420 for his shift at a Bakers Inn outlet on Chinhoyi Street in Harare. However, around 3:08 AM the following day, he contacted Simbisa Bakers Inn audit manager Yusufu Bruce, confessing to losing the entire amount through online betting on a platform called Aviator.
Prosecutor Audrah Chitoro detailed the events, explaining that Bruce subsequently conducted a reconciliation at the shop, confirming the misappropriation of the US$3,420. With no funds recovered, a police report was filed, leading to Gonese’s arrest.
In his defence, Gonese explained his actions, stating: “Your Worship, my intention was not to steal, but to win more money. I started betting with US$350, and as I kept trying my luck, I ended up spending all the US$3 420. My girlfriend recently eloped with me, and I wanted to impress her if I had won the money.”
He hoped to not only repay the stolen funds but also generate a profit to impress his new wife. This revelation highlights the desperation and poor judgment that led to his actions.
This incident underscores the potentially devastating consequences of problem gambling. The case of Gonese is not an isolated one; another recent incident in Harare further illustrates the perils of unchecked gambling addiction.
A separate incident, reported by iHarare, involved a Harare man who collapsed inside a Moors World of Sport (MWOS) betting shop after losing his brother’s grocery shop stock money on the Aviator game, locally known as “Chindege.”
Eyewitnesses reported that the man had been given the funds to purchase stock but instead gambled it away. The weight of his loss overwhelmed him, causing him to collapse.
A video circulating online shows patrons attempting to revive the man, with a police officer also present. The video has ignited widespread discussion about the dangers of gambling. One witness described the scene: “The man was distraught. It was clear he couldn’t handle the shock of losing the money.”
While the exact amount lost and the man’s identity remain unconfirmed by iHarare at the time of writing, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating financial and emotional consequences associated with problem gambling.
