Zimra employee in court over abuse of office charges

Yeukai Karengezeka

Court Correspondent

A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officer, who allegedly facilitated the export of 37 truckloads of chrome concentrate to South Africa illegally, has appeared in court.

Tawanda Mupingo (46) is facing criminal abuse of office charges as a public officer before Harare magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi. He was granted US$100 bail and was ordered to return to court on July 26 for a possible trial date.

Mupingo was represented by lMr Nelson Mashizha of Mashizha, Mutukwa and Sambo Business Attorneys.

The complainant is the State represented by Lonely Chibururu, employed by the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) as a chief inspector.

Mupingo is a revenue officer whose mandate among other things is to extend export permits at the instruction of either an exporter or exporter’s agent after having been satisfied that the extension conforms to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) requirements and export in relation to the bill of entry in question would not have been  effected.

The State alleged that on February 6, Zim Alloys through (MMCZ) registered a bill of entry number E2159 regarding Commercial Invoice number MT/0042/23-3 for exportation of 34 tonnes of Chrome Concentrate from Mvurwi to Zopco South  Africa.

A bill of entry is a legal document that is filed by importers or customs clearance agents on or before the arrival of imported goods.

It is submitted to the Customs department as a part of the customs clearance procedure and once this is done, the importer will be able to claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) on the goods. The chrome concentrate in relation to this bill of entry was loaded on a truck horse registration number KM32WW GP towing trailer registration number KM33RYGP on February 8, 2023 crossed Beitbridge Border Post into South Africa on February 10, 2023.

The court heard that on May 15,  2023, the said bill of entry number BOE2159 expired and Mupingo unlawfully extended it in the Zimra Asycuda System to June 14, 2023 without authority or consent or correspondence from either Zim Alloys or MMCZ thereby exposing it to illegal exportation of 37 truckloads weighing 1 258 tonnes of chrome concentrate to Reddy Cargo Services South Africa by Wajuka Enterprises.

Mr Thomas Chanakira appeared for the State.