Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A local businesswoman appeared in court on Thursday after allegedly using fraudulent diplomatic rebates associated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to import goods into Zimbabwe.
Charity Tatenda Mangwiro (29) was arraigned before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa, facing charges of fraud and money laundering.
She was granted US$300 bail. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), represented by Violet Yedzayi Rupiya, a supervisor stationed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport is the complainant in the case.
Prosecutor Mr Rufaro Chonzi told the court that on December 3, 2025, detectives conducting “Operation Pressure Valve” received intelligence about a syndicate engaged in importing goods using fraudulent diplomatic rebates purportedly linked to the UNDP.
On November 28, 2025, authorities intercepted a consignment of goods weighing 5 554 kilogrammes at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
The shipment was falsely declared as belonging to the United Nations World Food Programme.
On the same day, one of the accused, Tawanda Juru, allegedly approached ZIMRA officials in an attempt to clear and collect the goods using fraudulent documents.
It is alleged that Mangwiro, acting in collusion with her accomplices, Givemore Chirenje and Tawanda Juru, both of whom are already on remand, prepared and approved the fake documentation used to facilitate the release of the imported goods.
Detectives from the CID Asset Forfeiture Unit arrested Mangwiro on December 10, 2025.
The total value of the goods involved in the fraud is yet to be determined.
