Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
THE Beitbridge Provincial Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 28-year-old customs clearing agent to an effective two years in prison for defrauding a Harare-based civil servant of US$15 700 in a botched vehicle import deal.
Evans Nzara, a resident of Khwalu 1 suburb, was found guilty after a lengthy trial before Magistrate Ms Patience Madondo, who delivered the sentence on Wednesday.
Nzara’s original three-year term was reduced to two years, with one year suspended on the condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
In her ruling, the magistrate said Nzara’s persistent fraudulent behaviour included importing a vehicle with a tampered chassis number and forging two registration documents submitted to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).
She explained that his actions caused significant prejudice to Zimra and negatively impacted the country’s finances.
Nzara was arrested in January, having spent months hiding in South Africa after committing the crime in May of the previous year.
According to Beitbridge Area Prosecutor Mr Ronald Mugwagwa, on May 10, 2022, Mr Hamufare Mugauri engaged Nzara to assist in importing a 2014 Toyota Hilux single cab from South Africa.
Nzara claimed he would handle the shipping process and informed Mr Mugauri on May 15 that he had found the vehicle priced at US$10 700.
He instructed Mr Mugauri to deposit the amount into a CABS bank account he claimed belonged to his company. After acknowledging receipt via WhatsApp, Nzara also requested an additional US$700 through EcoCash.
However, Nzara failed to deregister the vehicle in South Africa as promised and illegally imported it into Zimbabwe using a manipulated Temporary Import Permit (TIP).
Upon delivery, Mr Mugauri discovered that the vehicle was actually a 2010 model, not the 2014 model he had requested, and that it had not been deregistered.
When Mr Mugauri raised concerns, Nzara promised to handle the registration in Zimbabwe for an additional US$4 800, which Mr Mugauri provided.
Later, Nzara falsely claimed to have completed the process and sent a customs receipt as proof.
The fraud was uncovered when police impounded the vehicle in Harare for lacking registration plates. Investigations revealed that the TIP was fake and that Nzara had doctored the vehicle registration certificate, with no import duty paid.
Nzara was eventually arrested in January 2023 after being lured into a trap set by detectives.
The US$15 700 remains unrecovered.
