HARARE – A Harare businessman and director of Whitecard Tobacco Company (Pvt) Ltd has been arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe officials from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) with US$2,000 to secure the release of illegally held tobacco destined for South Africa.
Tawanda Mandudzo, 51, appeared before Harare magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai on Tuesday charged with bribery and was released on US$300 bail.
Prosecutors said the offence came to light during a routine surveillance operation on July 23 by TIMB inspectors and Zimbabwe Republic Police officers in the Waterfalls area of Harare.
Authorities arrested Ringisai Manhando at a residential property with a truck loaded with compressed boxes of lamina – a type of hand-stripped tobacco – allegedly intended for smuggling. Investigations linked the consignment to Mandudzo, who was allegedly using his company’s export permit, meant for tobacco stems, to disguise the export of lamina.
Further inquiries revealed Mandudzo was also processing stems of unexplained origin without the required TIMB license. Under current policy, scrap licenses for handling waste tobacco are only issued after the closure of auction floors to prevent side marketing.
The situation escalated when Mandudzo’s South African associate, identified only as Fayaz and linked to NITTO Investments, called TIMB inspectorate manager Isiah Hokonya on July 25, urging him to release the seized tobacco. Fayaz said he had received Hokonya’s number from Mandudzo.
Later that day, Mandudzo allegedly contacted Hokonya directly, offering a US$3,000 bribe. After the offer was rejected, he lowered it to US$2,000 and allegedly pressured the official to accept.
Hokonya reported the incident to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), which set up a sting operation.
On July 28, Mandudzo reportedly visited TIMB’s Southerton offices, handed over a black plastic bag containing US$2,000 in cash, and was arrested moments later by ZACC investigators. The exchange was recorded on video.
Mandudzo is expected back in court on August 27.
