- Registration of top-of-the-range vehicles forged
- Vehicles Theft Squadron impounding suspected vehicles
TOP-OF-THE-RANGE temporarily imported vehicles brought into the country by mostly Zimbabwean residents living abroad – particularly in South Africa – have continued to dodge paying Zimra the stipulated tax revenue at entry points.
Top-of-the-range vehicles are levied huge amounts in tax revenue by Zimra on behalf of government at the country’s border posts, depending on the vehicles’ value on the local market.
Zimbabweans living in foreign countries, especially South Africa, are buying top-of-the-range vehicles which they later bring into the country on three months temporary import permits.
The three-month period permitted the car in Zimbabwe is renewable at any port of entry or nearest Zimra offices.
The facility has, however, given rise to fraudulent activities with beneficiaries later selling the vehicles at exorbitant prices to their clients doted around the country.
There are allegations of Zimra officials and clearing agents utilising this facility to make thousands of dollars in forex after simply forging registration documents for the foreign top-of-the-range registered vehicles.
Former Zimra CEO Gishom Pasi was once arrested on allegations of driving a top-of-range vehicle with particulars of a Toyota Raum.
The vehicles enter into the country through temporary imported permits and after they have overstayed in the country, dealers would then play around with Registration papers to come up with fake ones for the vehicles.
Tatenda Terrence Mahachi, a Zimra official, was once exposed for allegedly forging registration documents for a car which was imported from the United Kingdom.
In 2017, government reduced the duration foreign registered vehicles are allowed in the country from 12 to three months in order to curb corrupt activities associated with cloning of vehicles.
The Vehicles Theft Squad (VTS) has so far impounded hundreds of top-of-the-range vehicles that did not undergo proper registration processes allowed in Zimbabwe.
Speaking to a senior officer stationed at VTS, Zim Morning Post was told that large numbers of foreign top-of-range vehicles have been impounded for overstaying.
