Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested Perfect Mhlanga from Westgate, Harare, following the discovery of a consignment of smuggled T-shirts at his place of residence.
ZACC Commissioner Mr Kindness Paradza confirmed the latest developments last night.
Allegations are that Mhlanga and nine others, who include two Zimbabwe Revenue Authority officers, who have already appeared in court, connived to smuggle 17,6 tonnes of T-shirts by misrepresenting that they were importing agricultural equipment.
“Mhlanga is part of a 10-member syndicate involving freight and shipping companies, clearing agents and ZIMRA officials. Investigations revealed that in October 2024, Jeed Investments Private Limited, represented by Jetro Mavangwa who is already in remand, procured 1 066 cartons of T-shirts from Slovenia and the consignment landed at port Beira in February 2025,” said Commissioner Paradza.
He said in March 2025, Mavangwa approached Secure Freight and Shipping Company in Harare and requested for the amendment of the bill of lading on consignee and notify party sections to Rufaro Nenyasha from Private Voluntary Organisation, whose director Norest Marara is also in remand.
“Norest Marara of Secure Freight and Shipping Company allegedly created a fake way bill listing a Chinese company as the supplier and falsely describing the cargo as drip irrigation equipment exempted from import duty.
“The container arrived in Harare on 23 March, and on April 23, fraudulent documents were uploaded into the ZIMRA system. The goods were cleared without physical examination, prejudicing the state of US$78 880,” he said.
After the consignment was cleared by ZIMRA officials, it was transported without paying any import duty or Value Added Tax (VAT) by Tony Chisuse, who is also in remand, to Bramfield farm in Nyabira.
Mhlanga, was arrested on May 24 and 52 boxes recovered from his Westgate residence.
Marara is already in remand.
