A Bulawayo man who squandered his late brother`s lumpsum payout without the deceased widow`s knowledge has been arrested.
Rodwell Ncube (50) of Gwabalanda suburb and who is employed as a nurse at Mpilo Central Hospital, allegedly stole ZWL$37 350,66 from his late brother’s (Melusi Ncube) bank account.
CITE learnt that Ncube allegedly seized the deceased`s bank card and cellphone during the funeral wake on December 2 and held on to it until the deceased’s former employer deposited a lump sum payout.
A source who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity, said the money was deposited into the account on March 10 and Ncube allegedly made the last withdrawal on May 29.
“Melusi Ncube was an employee of the BCC. He was married to Fisiwe Ntini under customary law union. They have 2 children together. Fisiwe was a cross-border trader and had gone to South Africa to order some of her goods for resale when her husband died. She had left the children in the custody of her biological mother,” said the source.
“Although Melusi had been unwell for quite some time he was still mobile and working. His mother and brother who had never set foot at their matrimonial home were alerted by their neighbour’s who failed to get hold of Fisiwe in South Africa.”
The source said when she arrived at the funeral wake she was not respected as the widow as the mother in law insisted that her son was never married.
“After the burial, Rodwell evicted the widow from the home but through the master of the high Court, she was recognised as the surviving spouse. Letters of administration were issued to her,” the source said.
“She later discovered that the City Council had deposited ZWL$33 000 into the eco cash account of the deceased and went on to get a print out to find out who had withdrawn the money. The print out showed that Rodwell had done all the transactions.”
Ncube (Rodwell) appeared before Bulawayo Western Commonage Magistrate Ulekile Mlea-Ndlovu,Tuesday, who remanded him out of custody to July 14.
State representative Sibekithemba Dube told the court that from December 2 to May 21 after the death of Ntini’s husband, Ncube (Rodwell) took hold of the deceased’s bank card and cellphone.
Dube said Rodwell withdrew the money and diverted it to his own use and out of a total amount of ZWL$37 350,66 and only ZWL$317,93 was recovered.
