Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
TWO Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officers stationed in Beitbridge have been arrested on charges of colluding with two other suspects to facilitate the illegal exportation of 26 trucks loaded with chrome concentrate, valued at nearly US$170 000.
The Zimra officers are accused of abusing their positions to bypass proper export procedures, allowing the valuable mineral to be smuggled out of the country.
Simon Taguta Homera is alleged to have conspired with Natasha Ruvimbo Chatidza stationed at the Electronic Cargo Tracking Systems (ECTS) to facilitate the illegal exportation of 25 trucks loads of chrome concentrate.
Chatidza is still at large.
In the other case, Kudzanai Nyatsawu is accused of having worked with an accomplice known as Phiri who is also at large to smuggle a truckload of chrome concrete.
Homera and Nyatsawu yesterday appeared in court separately before Beitbridge magistrates Ms Vavariro Gavi and Mr Takudzwa Gwazemba respectively. They were both denied bail and remanded to August 5.
They are facing charges of criminal abuse of duty as public officers.
Prosecuting, Mr Claudius Karinga and Miss Tinayeishe Matenga said the accused committed the crime between November last year and February this year.
The court heard that during that period, Homera who was stationed at the Zimra scan section at Beitbridge Border Post connived with Chatiza who is stationed at the Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) to facilitate the illegal exportation of 25 truckloads of chrome concentrate.
They had allegedly received the trucks from Sharnkar Warjukar, an Indian national who is based in India to clear.
The trucks were travelling from Mvurwi to Reddy Cargo Services Warehouse, City Deep in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“Instead of checking for compliance with customs documents and booking these trucks in Zimra registered, the duo allegedly skipped the process. In the process, the trucks went through the border without paying a total of US$167 280, 70 in export royalties to the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe,” said the prosecutors.
Investigations revealed that the accused person had used a bill of entry which had been used by Zim Alloys to clear its trucks.
In the case of Nyatsawu, the State alleges that on January 5, the accused who is also deployed to the scan section connived with Phiri who is still on the run and was stationed at the ECTS.
They allegedly facilitated the smuggling of a truckload of chrome concentrate belonging to Warjukar that was also destined for Johannesburg.
As a result of their actions, the Minerals Marketing Corporation lost a total of US$3 400 in export royalties.
Online Reporter