Centenary Tobacco Company Owner Sentenced to 20 Years for Diesel Smuggling Scam
HARARE – The High Court of Zimbabwe sitting in Harare has sentenced Hugh Tinashe Sibanda, a Harare businessman, to 20 years in prison, with 5 years suspended for good behavior, for masterminding a diesel smuggling operation that cost the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) US$2.8 million in lost revenue.
Sibanda, the owner of Centenary Tobacco Company, used forged documents to import 4.47 million litres of duty-free diesel between October 2022 and February 2023.
He deceived CMED (Pvt) Ltd into believing his company had government authorization to import duty-free fuel for agricultural purposes.
The scam was uncovered in January 2023 when ZIMRA discovered the counterfeit letters from the Ministry of Agriculture and ZIMRA.
Sibanda’s actions not only deprived the state of crucial revenue but also allowed him to reap immense profits at the expense of honest taxpayers.
In addition to Sibanda’s sentence, Centenary Tobacco Company has been ordered to pay ZIMRA US$2.1 million.
The Sheriff of the High Court has been instructed to seize the company’s property to recover the outstanding funds.
