Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
Six men, including two Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials and a company director, were yesterday denied bail in a case involving the smuggling of T-shirts worth US$78 000.
The magistrate ruled that compelling reasons justified their pre-trial detention.
The individuals include Jethro Mavangwa (41), the director of Jeed Investments (Pvt) Ltd; Peter Ndamba (61), the director of Rufaro Nenyasha Private Voluntary Organisation; Norest Chiureki Marara (51), a clearing agent with Secure Freight Pvt Ltd; Brian Simbachako (35) and Alford Toruvanda (37), both Zimra revenue officers; and Tony Chisuse (31), a truck driver.
The prosecution, led by Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti, said that in October 2024, Mavangwa imported 1 066 cartons of cotton T-shirts from Slovenia, falsely declaring them as agricultural equipment allegedly to evade taxes.
The shipment was originally sealed in Slovenia and routed through Beira, Mozambique, before arriving in Zimbabwe in February 2025.
Mavangwa allegedly conspired with his accomplices to create fake invoices and documents, misrepresenting the origin of the goods.
He changed the consignee on the bill of lading to mislead customs authorities.
Zimra officials Simbachako and Toruvanda cleared the shipment without proper inspection.
The container was released and transported to Bramfield Farm, resulting in a loss of approximately US$78 880 to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
The consignment has yet to be recovered. Best Gadzikwa Mawonera, another implicated individual, is also awaiting his bail hearing.
