Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
A ZIMBABWE Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) official and four clearing agents stationed at Forbes Border Post were arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) for allegedly defrauding the authority of US$18 979 through fraudulent declarations.
Collins Chakamavinga, a ZIMRA official, along with clearing agents, Michael Makonye, Batsirai Mangoma, Zondai Bechayi, and Steven Masaraure, appeared before Mutare magistrate, Mr Honest Masiyiwa, on Wednesday, facing charges of fraud as defined in Section 136 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act (Chapter 9:23).
The clearing agents are employed by WithYou Customs Clearing Private Limited and Tayema Investments Private Limited Clearing Agency respectively.
The five men were not asked to plead to the charges, and were initially remanded to August 19.
Each of them was granted US$500 bail under strict conditions, which include residing at their stated addresses, not interfering with State witnesses, and reporting to their nearest police station every fortnight on Fridays.
Chakamavinga was represented by Harare-based lawyer, Mr Admire Rubaya, of Rubaya and Chatambudza Legal Practitioners, while the other four accused persons were represented by Mutare-based lawyer, Mr Peter Makombe of Makombe and Associates.
Prosecutor, Ms Joice Tinarwo, said the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission received a tip-off on July 8 regarding two trucks belonging to Cheetah Logistics, bearing registration numbers AAN355SF/AD285SF and AAI354SF/AD292SF.
The trucks were suspected to have made false declarations in an attempt to smuggle goods through Forbes Border Post.
“ZACC officers intercepted the two trucks at Manica Truck Stop in Mutare around 11pm, shortly after their release from ZIMRA control. The Mozambican drivers – Assumane Zaquiel Ibraimo and Armando Domingos Rodrigues – reportedly failed to produce customs documents, and indicated that the paperwork was with their agent, Tinashe Maunze.
“The trucks were escorted back to the GMS yard for thorough examination.
The following day, Maunze, who remains at large, and Masaraure presented what they claimed were valid customs documents to ZACC.
“However, upon re-examination of the consignment on July 10, investigators discovered that the trucks were loaded with various undeclared goods. This sharply contradicted with the original declarations, which stated that the trucks carried cultivator spare parts and accessories, and machinery components for agricultural use,” she said.
Ms Tinarwo said investigations revealed that one truck had supposedly undergone a physical inspection, which Chakamavinga fraudulently logged in the Asycuda system.
He falsely claimed to have conducted the examination with another revenue officer, Mr Hillary Chiwamba.
“Further findings showed that the second truck had been released without undergoing any physical checks or scanning procedures. The fraudulent customs entries were reportedly submitted using the Asycuda profiles of clearing agents Mangoma and Makonye. The documentation was then passed to Bechayi and Maunze, who submitted it to ZIMRA officials, resulting in the clearance and release of the consignments. Maunze, acting on instructions from Masaraure, was allegedly directed to liaise with specific ZIMRA officers to ensure the consignment’s smooth passage,” said Ms Tinarwo.
She said ZIMRA was ultimately prejudiced of a total US$18 979 through the fraudulent scheme.
Investigations into the matter are still underway.
