Harare maid steals US$16,500 from Chinese employer, husband arrested
A Harare maid is accused of stealing US$16 500 from her Chinese employer.
The theft happened after the employer briefly left a satchel containing US$72 300 unattended.
The State alleges that on September 11, 2026, Moline Mutsambiwa, 38, reported for work at Liang’s apartment around midday and started cleaning the rooms.
Liang was reportedly carrying the satchel containing the cash when he briefly left it unattended for about three minutes while preparing tea.
After spending about an hour cleaning, Mutsambiwa told Liang that she had finished her work and was leaving.
According to The Herald, Liang opened the satchel to get money to pay her, only to discover that US$16 500 was missing.
He immediately alerted the police and locked Mutsambiwa inside the apartment while he went out to look for a woman who could search her.
While Liang was away, Mutsambiwa allegedly handed the stolen cash to a friend identified only as Martha for safekeeping.
Martha has not been arrested and remains at large.
Police detectives later interviewed Mutsambiwa, who allegedly confessed to stealing the money and told them that she had handed it to Martha.
Investigations into the missing cash then led police to Mutsambiwa’s husband, Charles Munyaradzi Dzembe, 42.
Dzembe, a vendor who sells school ties, was arrested and allegedly confessed to the offence.
He subsequently handed over US$10 500 to the detectives.
The recovered money was, however, US$6 000 short of the amount allegedly stolen from Liang.
The State alleges that Liang suffered actual prejudice of US$16 500, with only US$10 500 recovered.
Mutsambiwa and Dzembe have since appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court in connection with the theft.
Mutsambiwa was remanded in custody to September 26. *_-iHarare_*
