Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo-Court Correspondent
A COMPANY has appeared in court for allegedly making payments totalling more than R1,6 million for goods imported from South Africa and Eswatini through the informal Hawala system without approval from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Unicomm Trading (Pvt) Ltd was represented by its finance manager, Ryan Eric Maidwell, who appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mr Ignatio Mhene facing charges of making payments outside Zimbabwe without authority from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Maidwell pleaded guilty to the charge and is expected to be sentenced today.
The State, represented by Detective Assistant Inspector Marange of the CID Asset Forfeiture Unit, Northern Region, alleged that on September 1, 2026, detectives received information that Unicomm Trading was unlawfully making payments for goods imported from South Africa and Eswatini without Reserve Bank approval.
The detectives proceeded to the company’s premises at Number 22 George Avenue, where they met Maidwell, identified themselves by producing their police service identity cards and explained the purpose of their investigation.
They requested the company to produce bills of entry for the period from January 1 to August 31, 2026, together with documents showing that it had obtained Reserve Bank approval to make payments outside Zimbabwe.
The company allegedly failed to produce evidence of authorised telegraphic transfers through the banking system, with investigations allegedly revealing that payments had instead been made through the informal Hawala system.
Maidwell was subsequently arrested and, on September 4, 2026, the company passed a resolution appointing him as its representative.
He was then taken to the CID Asset Forfeiture Unit, Northern Region, for further management of the case.
The State alleged that the total value of the transactions was R1 687,186.81 and (Eswatini currency) SZL519 911.15, with nothing recovered.
