adminIreen Bikita, of House Number 10716 Runyararo suburb in Masvingo, was convicted on her own plea of guilty to charges of contravening a section of the Customs and Excise Act (smuggling) by Beitbridge provincial resident magistrate Ms Gloria Takundwa.
The smuggled goods were forfeited to the State as part of the sentence.
The prosecutor, Miss Memory Mandityira, said on 7 June at around 3pm, Bikita arrived at Beitbridge Border Post from South Africa. She was carrying a consignment of goods which included clothes, footwear, blankets and handbags valued at R9 217.
The court heard that Mandityira did not make efforts to declare the goods with Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) as part of the customs formalities.
She smuggled the goods and proceeded to Dulibadzimu bus terminus where she intended to board a bus.
Acting on a tip off, detectives followed Bikita to the bus terminus where they intercepted the consignment. They asked her to produce declaration forms for the goods she had imported and she failed to do so, leading to her arrest. The contraband was seized and taken to the Zimra warehouse at Beitbridge Border Post.
The State stood to be prejudiced of $1 200 in customs duty.
Meanwhile, a 29-year-old Nigerian man was fined R2 000 (or two months in jail) for illegally entering the country through Beitbridge Border Post.
Ezewuike Oluchia, of 1005 Harmol Heights in Johannesburg, South Africa, was convicted on his own plea of guilty to contravening Section 12 (1) of the Immigration Act (entry by evasion), by Ms Takundwa.
Miss Mandityira said on 10 June, Oluchia arrived at Beitbridge Border Post intending to cross into Zimbabwe from South Africa.
Instead of reporting to the immigration counters as part of the procedures, he proceeded to the exit gate where police intercepted him. He was asked to produce a passport and he failed to do so, leading to his arrest.
Online Reporter