Zimra officer in US$1 million smuggling storm

A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officer has appeared in court for allegedly masterminding a sophisticated smuggling scheme that reportedly cost the tax authority more than US$1 million in lost revenue.

Tinotenda Mawoyo (34), who was employed as a Revenue Officer and stationed at Plumtree Border Post at the time of the alleged offences, is accused of facilitating the fraudulent importation of goods in collaboration with clearing agents and other ZIMRA officials.

Mawoyo was granted US$200 bail when he appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.

Prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti told the court that on January 24, 2024, Mawoyo allegedly worked with Innocent Moyo  -  who is already on remand under case CRB PTPP118/26 at Plumtree Magistrates' Court  -  to fraudulently generate Baobab Consultancy's tax clearance certificate in ZIMRA's Tax and Revenue Management System (TARMS).

Innocent Moyo was employed by CIM Consultancy, a firm responsible for handling the tax affairs of Baobab Consultancy, a company owned by Phillip Mafurebwe.

Although Baobab Consultancy was not registered for the importation of goods, the court heard that in February 2024, Moyo allegedly issued the company's tax clearance certificate to Nyasha Moyo, an employee of Blenny Freight Services (Pvt) Ltd, a clearing agency.

Nyasha Moyo, working with Blessing Kodzawako, a director of Blenny Freight Services, allegedly applied to ZIMRA for the registration of Baobab Consultancy as an importer. The application was approved, paving the way for the company to bring goods into the country.

Fake Invoices and Fraudulent Declarations

Once registered, the accused allegedly facilitated the smuggling of alcohol and other commodities by misrepresenting them as duty-exempt agricultural equipment, including centre pivots, knapsacks and bulk washing powder.

The court heard that fake invoices were generated in the name of Baobab Consultancy, listing duty-free agricultural equipment. These invoices were then used to create fraudulent Bills of Entry in the ASYCUDA World system, using tariff codes applicable to duty-free goods.

The documents were allegedly presented to ZIMRA revenue officers at the scanning point for clearance, allowing the goods to pass through undetected.

It is further alleged that the fraudulent paperwork was shared with other clearing agents  -  including Queenlight Investments, Proconnie Investments, Pelican Advisory and Sydow Investments  -  to generate additional fraudulent Bill of Entry numbers used to clear the smuggled consignments.

Investigations are ongoing, and the matter has been remanded to a later date as the State continues to build its case.