HARARE – A senior Zanu PF politburo member, Andy Mhlanga, is set to stand trial on August 13 over allegations of smuggling 17.6 tonnes of T-shirts disguised as agricultural imports, defrauding the state of nearly US$79,000 in duty revenue.
Mhlanga, a former secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National War Veterans Association, was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) alongside nine others, including his son, Perfect.
Court documents show that in October 2024, Jeed Investments Pvt Ltd—represented by Mhlanga’s associate Jetro Mavangwa—purchased 1,066 cartons of T-shirts from Slovenia. The shipment arrived at Port Beira, Mozambique, in February 2025.
In March, Mavangwa allegedly contracted Secure Freight and Shipping Company in Harare to alter the bill of lading, changing the consignee details to Rufaro Nenyasha, linked to a private voluntary organisation (PVO). The PVO’s director, Norest Marara, is also in custody.
Marara is accused of submitting a fake waybill declaring the goods as drip irrigation equipment—exempt from duty—and listing a Chinese supplier to support the fraudulent claim.
On March 23, the container arrived in Harare, and by April 23, falsified documents were uploaded into the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) system. This enabled clearance without physical inspection, resulting in a US$78,880 revenue loss.
The goods were delivered to Mhlanga’s Bramfield Farm in Nyabira by Tony Chisuse, who is also in remand. Police later recovered boxes of T-shirts from Perfect Mhlanga’s residence in Westgate, Harare.
Andy Mhlanga was granted US$300 bail following his court appearance on July 17. The matter will proceed to trial next month.
