An attempt to export 25 tonnes of chrome ore concentrate has embroiled the Zimbabwe Defence Industries in a fraud scandal after two transport operators were charged in court for allegedly using forged documents and falsely claiming a partnership with the state-owned company.
Transport operators Precious Ncube (49) and Methsary Muchirahondo (35) appeared before the Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court facing fraud charges connected to the failed export operation.
The National Prosecuting Authority alleges that the accused obtained counterfeit export documents, including a Bill of Entry Form and a Commercial Invoice, falsely representing a joint venture with Zimbabwe Defence Industries and Rusununguko Nkululeko Holdings. They presented these documents at the Beitbridge Border Post in an attempt to export 25 tonnes of chrome ore concentrate.
However, investigations revealed that the accused were not authorized to represent the mentioned companies and had misrepresented the contents of the shipment. Additionally, the export permit they presented had expired.
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The accused pleaded not guilty and were remanded to September 4, 2024. The court also ordered the seizure of the documents, truck, and cargo involved.
Zimbabwe continues to lose revenue due to smuggling through its porous borders. The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce estimated in 2020 that the country loses up to US$1 billion annually from smuggling.
In April 2024, the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) announced efforts to combat mineral smuggling by improving monitoring and surveillance systems. MMCZ’s acting general manager, Nomsa Moyo, acknowledged the ongoing challenge of mineral revenue losses due to smuggling.
To address this issue, MMCZ plans to adopt new technologies such as drones for surveillance, upgrade the Zimbabwe School of Mines metallurgy laboratory to reduce dependence on private labs, and enhance rail and road weighbridges to better monitor the movement of mineral resources.
“We are working on improving our monitoring systems,” Moyo stated. “This includes introducing drones for effective surveillance, as well as upgrading existing rail weighbridges and installing new road weighbridges.”
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