News / Regional
Zimra impounds Harare-bound bus for smuggling
03 Mar 2013 at 07:03hrs | Views
POLICE and officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority on Friday evening impounded a Harare bound bus whose passengers are alleged to have smuggled goods worth thousands of dollars through the Zimbabwe-Botswana border post.
Zimra officials reportedly got a tip-off that the bus had managed to pass through the border post without its passengers paying duty, which resulted in them (Zimra) engaging the police to set up a roadblock along the Bulawayo-Plumtree highway, and passengers had to spend an unpleasant night sleeping in a cramped bus.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the ordeal and said investigations were under way and they were working with Zimra officials to bring the culprits to book.
"We are handling a case where a bus allegedly smuggled goods without paying duty for goods that they bought in Botswana.
"We are still working with Zimra officials, and all passengers are being made to pay fines to Zimra," he said.
It is alleged that some passengers did not pay their dues to Zimra officials. The passengers were made to offload all their goods and a thorough search was conducted.
In an interview by Sunday News at the site, most passengers refuted claims by Zimra officials and said they had to sleep in the bus and hoped the procedure would be done by the end of the day.
"I have been here since yesterday (Friday) evening and we have no accommodation in this city.
"We hope all these investigations and whoever smuggled goods into Zimbabwe without paying is brought to book and is arraigned before law.
"I slept under harsh conditions because of some individuals who do not want to confess that they did not pay the appropriate dues at the border," said a passenger who identified himself as Steven.
The driver, only identified as Munyaradzi, refuted the claims that were brought upon his passengers.
He insisted that his passengers were innocent and wanted to continue with the journey.
"It is so stressful that I have been here since yesterday (Friday). I hope all investigations are over by the end of the day," he said.
However, some passengers were seen producing receipts and making payments to Zimra officials. The goods were inclusive of furniture, satellite dishes, solar panels, DVD decoders and clothes.
Zimra officials reportedly got a tip-off that the bus had managed to pass through the border post without its passengers paying duty, which resulted in them (Zimra) engaging the police to set up a roadblock along the Bulawayo-Plumtree highway, and passengers had to spend an unpleasant night sleeping in a cramped bus.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the ordeal and said investigations were under way and they were working with Zimra officials to bring the culprits to book.
"We are handling a case where a bus allegedly smuggled goods without paying duty for goods that they bought in Botswana.
"We are still working with Zimra officials, and all passengers are being made to pay fines to Zimra," he said.
It is alleged that some passengers did not pay their dues to Zimra officials. The passengers were made to offload all their goods and a thorough search was conducted.
In an interview by Sunday News at the site, most passengers refuted claims by Zimra officials and said they had to sleep in the bus and hoped the procedure would be done by the end of the day.
"I have been here since yesterday (Friday) evening and we have no accommodation in this city.
"We hope all these investigations and whoever smuggled goods into Zimbabwe without paying is brought to book and is arraigned before law.
"I slept under harsh conditions because of some individuals who do not want to confess that they did not pay the appropriate dues at the border," said a passenger who identified himself as Steven.
The driver, only identified as Munyaradzi, refuted the claims that were brought upon his passengers.
He insisted that his passengers were innocent and wanted to continue with the journey.
"It is so stressful that I have been here since yesterday (Friday). I hope all investigations are over by the end of the day," he said.
However, some passengers were seen producing receipts and making payments to Zimra officials. The goods were inclusive of furniture, satellite dishes, solar panels, DVD decoders and clothes.
Source - sundaynews
