TWO Chinhoyi men appeared in court last Thursday facing tax evasion charges involving $9 900. OWN CORRESPONDENT
The pair – Musekiwa Nyamadzawo and Lucky Manyeyere both aged 38 – were alleged to have prejudiced the State of revenue worth over $9 900 by evading paying duty on imported goods. Chinhoyi magistrate Singandu Jele remanded them to January 17 on $50 bail each.
Allegations against the two are that on January 5 this year, the accused, who are employed by Taka and Chaya Haulage, acted in connivance and misrepresented to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials at Beitbridge Border Post that their consignment consisting of an assortment of ciders and brandy was destined for Zambia, and, therefore, was not subject to paying duty.
Their truck was allowed passage without paying duty, the court heard. On the same date between Beitbridge and Lions’ Den in Chinhoyi, it was alleged that the accused persons off-loaded various quantities of the contraband at different points.
The following day at around 9am at Lions’Den, police detectives got information that accused persons were off-loading goods from a truck registration number ACE1107 into another one.
Upon arrival at the scene, the detectives found the duo busy off-loading the beverages, leading to their arrest. Zimra officials were called in to assess the goods which were purported to be on transit to Zambia and it was established that some of the goods had been disposed of. The total revenue the State allegedly lost was $9 966,78 and nothing was recovered.
Hazel Kondo prosecuted.
