adminAshley Mujoma
NORMAN Chihota (42) from Chitungwiza is in a dispute with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) after the confiscation of his vehicle and goods.
This follows his return from South Africa in August last year.
Chihota, who claimsto have lived in South Africa for over 14 years, believes he should have been entitled to free duty as a returning resident.
He claims he initially engaged a bogus agent at the border but backed down after being charged an exorbitant fee.
His problems worsened when he dealt directly with ZIMRA and alleged officials claimed hispapers were fake.
“After noting that the first agent was bogus and knowing the privilege was free, I engaged another agent registered with ZIMRA, and was told the privilege was indeed free.
“Problems began when I visited one of the supervisors, who told me that she was aware of my story, as she had been tipped off that my vehicle registration book was fake.
“The bogus agent had misinterpreted that my vehicle registration book should have been in my name for more than six months.
“I had bought the car way more than six months before, as per the receipt, but delayed registration due to financial constraints,” said Chihota.
He said he spent two days at the border and was made to deal with a new supervisor, who also informed him that he had been briefed about his case.
The new supervisor also insisted that Chihota’s vehicle registration book and export papers were fake.
“I am 100 percent sure that information had been passed down from the bogus agent to ZIMRA officers to deny me the privilege of rebate because I had refused to deal with bogus agents.
“A liaison officer was then engaged to do the verification and, authentication, of my documents from SARS, and the Traffic Department in South Africa.
“We were supposed to visit these offices together, but he refused to go with me each time I pleaded with him because I was facing huge costs of staying at the border without any progress,” he said.
ZIMRA spokesperson, Francis Chimhanda, said they do not comment on individual cases because the law says they should protect their clients.
Chihota’s vehicle and goods are still with ZIMRA at the border.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter