Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
TWO agent companies, Autarkings Investments and Trevomz Industries Pvt (Ltd), have been charged with defrauding ZIMRA of ZiG 6 million through a sophisticated manipulation of their tax systems.
Autarkings Investments, represented by its director Last Kodzwa, was granted US$500 bail after appearing before Harare Magistrate Ms Lisah Mutendereki.
In contrast, Trevomz Industries, led by its director Trevor Zibgwowa, was remanded in custody pending a bail ruling today before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.
ZIMRA is the complainant in both cases.
The allegations date back to when ZIMRA implemented its Automated Goods and Services Data System (ASCUDA) for the clearance of imported and exported goods.
As part of this system, ZIMRA created prepayment accounts to streamline the process for approved clearing agencies.
Each agency was assigned a unique business partner (BP) number to facilitate the clear separation and accounting of taxes in both Zimbabwean dollars (ZWL) and foreign currency.
Agents were required to calculate duty on imported goods, deposit the corresponding amounts into ZIMRA’s BancABC account and subsequently use this information to clear their clients’ goods.
In a calculated move on May 31 and June 30, 2025, Kodzwa allegedly devised a scheme to defraud ZIMRA by manipulating his prepayment account, registered under BP number G0200286634.
He colluded with ZIMRA system administrators Nancy Marongwe and Paradzai Mutasa, who are already in custody, to fabricate figures in his prepayment account.
This deception misled ZIMRA into believing that the funds had been deposited in the agency’s bank account.
As a result of these actions, ZIMRA incurred a loss of ZiG 4 044 700.
In a separate incident, Trevomz Industries employed a similar approach, leading to a loss of ZiG 2 045 000.
