Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
Court Correspondent
The director of Freight Customs Clearing (Pvt) Limited, Lawrence Zifungo, has appeared in court facing allegations of defrauding ZIMRA of ZiG$3,4 million.
Zifungo was arraigned before Harare Regional Magistrate Mrs Jesse Kufa, who granted him US$300 bail.
The complainant in the case is Rosecraft Freight (Pvt) Limited, represented by its director, Takudzwa Madende.
Prosecutor Mr Rufaro Chonzi told the court that in 2023, Zifungo entered into an agreement with Rosecraft Freight to use their company to clear goods for his clients.
The complainant authorised Zifungo to log into their pre‑payment account and post entries for transactions, charging him a fee of between US$30 and US$50 per transaction.
However, between January 2025 and August 2025, Zifungo allegedly devised a scheme to defraud Rosecraft Freight.
Acting in collusion with ZIMRA employees, who are still at large, Zifungo misrepresented that Rosecraft Freight had deposited ZiG$3 448 620 into ZIMRA’s BANC ABC account.
The accused and his accomplices then manipulated records to create fictitious figures, making it appear as though the deposits had been made. Using the falsified records, Zifungo cleared goods valued at ZiG$3.4 million, prejudicing ZIMRA of the funds.
The total amount allegedly defrauded is ZiG$3 448 620, and none of the money has been recovered.
