Two officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and five other individuals — including a private voluntary organisation (PVO) representative — have appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on charges related to the smuggling of more than 17 tonnes of T-shirts into the country through the use of fraudulent documentation.
The accused include Zimra officers Brian Simbachako and Alford Choruvanda, as well as Jethro Mavangwa, the director of Jeed Investments; Rufaro Nenyasha, linked to the PVO; customs clearing agent Norest Marara; truck driver Tony Chisuse; and another unnamed clearing agent. They are accused of conspiring to bypass customs procedures and evade import taxes.
According to state prosecutors, the alleged smuggling operation began when Mavangwa arranged the importation of 1,066 boxes of T-shirts from Slovenia in October of last year. The cargo was shipped via Port Koper, moved through Mozambique, and arrived at the Manica warehouse in Harare by March.
However, authorities claim the shipment was fraudulently declared as drip irrigation equipment from China, with the accused forging the bill of lading to misrepresent the contents and origin.
The misclassification allegedly enabled the group to dodge nearly US$79,000 in import duty and value-added tax (VAT). Investigators further allege that Zimra officials responsible for verifying the shipment cooperated with the accused by skipping the mandatory inspection, facilitating the undetected delivery of the cargo to Bramfield Farm in Nyabira.
All seven suspects have been remanded in custody while the court deliberates on their bail applications. The complainant in the case is Yulita Toma, a revenue supervisor at Zimra.
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