Six Nabbed in US$78,880 Customs Fraud Over T-Shirt Imports
HARARE – Six individuals, including Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials and clearing agents, appeared before a Harare magistrate yesterday, accused of falsifying documents to evade US$78,880 in customs duty on 17.5 tonnes of imported cotton T-shirts.
The accused include Jethro Mavangwa (41), director of Jeed Investments Pvt Ltd; Peter Ndamba (61), director of Rufaro Nenyasha Private Voluntary Organisations, Norest Chiureki Marara (51), a clearing agent with Secure Freight Pvt Ltd, ZIMRA revenue officers Brian Simbachako (35) and Alford Toruvanda (37), and truck driver Tony Chisuse (31).
They allegedly conspired to falsely declare the consignment as agricultural drip irrigation equipment, exploiting tax exemptions.
Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti told the court that in October last year, Mavangwa, through Jeed Investments, imported 1,066 cartons of cotton T-shirts weighing 17,573kg from Fin-Agri-Holding DOO in Slovenia.
The sealed consignment travelled from Port of Koper, Slovenia, via Beira, Mozambique, before arriving in Harare in March this year.
In February, Mavangwa allegedly altered the consignee details on the bill of lading, transferring ownership from Jeed Investments Pvt Ltd to Rufaro Nenyasha Pvt Voluntary Organisation.
The accused then produced fraudulent shipping documents, misrepresenting the shipment as drip irrigation equipment from China instead of T-shirts from Slovenia to evade taxes.
According to The Herald, the fraudulent paperwork allowed the shipment to bypass customs duty, taking advantage of tax exemptions on agricultural goods.
The cargo was later moved by rail to the Manica warehouse in Harare on March 23, still sealed under its original Slovenian markings.
On April 17, clearing agent Marara subcontracted Best Gadzikwa Mawonera of Dawn Shipping Pvt Ltd to process ZIMRA clearance using the fraudulent paperwork.
Fake invoices were used to declare the consignment as agricultural equipment, allowing ZIMRA revenue officers Simbachako and Toruvanda to approve clearance on April 23 without conducting a physical inspection.
By April 25, the consignment was released and transported to Bramfield Farm in Nyabira, where the T-shirts were offloaded without paying duty or VAT.
ZIMRA suffered an actual revenue loss of ZiG$2,167,608.35, and investigations to recover the missing shipment are ongoing.
The accused remain in custody as investigations continue, with a bail ruling expected next Tuesday.
