Harare-based company, director arrested over US$7 million gas import scandal

A prominent businessman from Harare and his company have been arrested for audaciously externalising more than US$7 million in foreign currency through an illegal gas deal.
According to the National Prosecution Authority (NPA), Grant Wellington Thulisa (Pvt) Ltd, represented by Grant Chitate, who is the director of the company, was arrested on July 30 in connection with unauthorised external payments.

Chitate is being charged for contravening Section 5 (1) of the Exchange Control Act (Chapter 22:05) as read with Section 11 (1) (a) (b) of the Exchange Control Regulations, S.I. 109 of 1996- making foreign payments without the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s approval.
“Between January 2019 and December 2024, the accused allegedly made unauthorised foreign payments to import 9.4 million kgs of LP gas, valued at US$7 669 864. No corresponding payments were reflected in the company’s Zimbabwean bank accounts. The local account balances did not match the value of imports,” read a statement from the NPA.

Investigations are still ongoing.
Chitate was granted US$1 000 bail with strict conditions pending the finalisation of investigations.

He is set to reappear in court on September 2.