Two Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials and five others, including a director from a private voluntary organisation (PVO), have appeared in court facing charges of smuggling over 17 tonnes of T-shirts into the country using forged documents.
Zimra employees Brian Simbachako and Alford Choruvanda were arraigned at the Harare Magistrates’ Court alongside Jeed Investments director Jethro Mavangwa, PVO representative Rufaro Nenyasha, clearing agent Norest Marara, truck driver Tony Chisuse, and another agent, all accused of working together to dodge paying customs duty.
Prosecutors allege that Mavangwa imported 1,066 cartons of T-shirts from Slovenia last October. The consignment was sealed at Port Koper, shipped to Mozambique, and later transported to Harare’s Manica warehouse. However, when it arrived in Zimbabwe in March this year, the group allegedly altered the bill of lading to disguise the cargo as agricultural drip irrigation equipment originating from China.
By using the falsified paperwork, they reportedly evaded paying nearly US$79,000 in import duty and VAT. Investigators claim that Zimra officials tasked with physically examining the cargo colluded with the accused by waiving the inspection, allowing the shipment to be delivered to Bramfield Farm in Nyabira without scrutiny.
The group was remanded in custody pending a bail ruling. Zimra’s revenue supervisor Yulita Toma is the complainant in the case.
