Businesswoman faces court over US$79 986 Zimra fraud

Rutendo Hazel Chiveso, 42, director of Sinyochiv Procurement Services (Pvt) Ltd, a Zimbabwean company importing goods from China, appeared at Harare Magistrates' Court on allegations of defrauding the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) of US$79 986.

Chiveso was granted US$300 bail by Magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa and is expected to return to court on September 30 for routine remand proceedings.

According to court documents, between March and April 2025, Chiveso's company purchased 1,143 cartons of clothes, fake flowers, foam balls, and other goods from Long Grand Enterprises Limited in Hong Kong. The total shipment weighed 48,020 kilograms and was loaded into two CMA CGM shipping containers in China, destined for the Port of Beira in Mozambique and eventually Harare.

The State alleges that in July 2025, upon the consignment's arrival at the Port of Beira, Chiveso, acting in collusion with Natural Manyeku, a clearing agent for Sequency Freight Pvt Limited, created a fake bill of lading and invoice. The documents falsely declared the shipment as agricultural implements, which are exempt from import duty.

Manyeku then subcontracted With You Customs Clearing to process Zimra clearance at the Forbes Border Post in Mutare. Using bill entries C 16697 and C 18711, the clearing company successfully declared the goods as duty-exempt agricultural implements, resulting in Zimra waiving US$79 986.58 in import duties.

The case is ongoing as authorities continue their investigation into the alleged scheme.