Senior Zanu PF official implicated in fraudulent vehicle registration

• THE Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Vehicle Theft Squad police section in Bulawayo and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) are reportedly investigating fraudulent registration of vehicles allegedly involving a senior Zanu PF women's league member.

Nokuthula Sibanda, popularly known as MaZikhali, is alleged to have worked with some clearing agents to produce fake number plates, which they allegedly gave to unsuspecting clients who sought their assistance in registering their imported vehicles.

One of their victims, Nobesuthu Ngwenya, yesterday revealed that Sibanda at some point collected $2 860 from her, which she said was for clearing her at the vehicle on bond at Beitbridge.

She said Sibanda then gave the money to Inercia, a company which allegedly put fake number plates on the vehicle and smuggled it into Zimbabwe.

She alleged that once in Zimbabwe, she experienced problems with Zimra over the vehicle, leading her to report the matter to the police implicating the company and Sibanda.

The case has been in the courts and details of the proceedings and court verdict will be unveiled in the near future. Following the report by Ngwenya, sources privy to the goings-on at Zimra and police revealed that the authorities were investigating scandals of fraudulent vehicle registrations allegedly involving Sibanda.

But Sibanda was bitter over the allegations, threatening to sue Ngwenya whom she accused of soiling her image.

"That woman must not try to tarnish my image like this," she said. "In the case of her car, even at court I was not an accused person, but I was just a witness. She wanted favours from me. I assisted her when her car was held at Beitbridge and the car was released. "

Sources said police vehicle theft squad officer dealing with the case is a Detective Tanda, who declined to comment and referred the Southern Eye to Bulawayo police spokesperson Mandlenkosi Moyo.

"Please just follow the right channels, call Moyo he will assist you," he said. Moyo said he had not yet received any information concerning the scandal and he referred Southern Eye to CID Bulawayo spokesperson Detective Inspector Monalisa Mangena.

"If the case involves politics I cannot handle it here," Mangena said.