Three Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials yesterday appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court charged with criminal abuse of office after allegedly undervaluing import duty on motor vehicles and swindling the State of $110 000.
BY NQOBILE NKIWANE
The parastatal’s human resources and administration director, Sithokozile Mrerwa (47), internal audit director, Clive Charles Manjengwa (52) and loss control director, Charlton Chihuri (40) were not asked to plead when they appeared before provincial magistrate, Tendai Mahwe, who remanded them out of custody to May 31 on $500 bail each.
As part of their bail conditions, they were ordered to surrender their travel documents and to reside at their given addresses until the finalisation of the matter.
Allegations against Mrerwa are that on different dates between May and August last year and contrary to her duties, she connived with Timothy Simfukwe, a director of Eftrade Ventures (motor vehicle dealer and importer), and Liberty Tinashe Mahembe of Vonlet Trading (clearing agent) based at Beitbridge border post to have her Toyota Prado declared as a second-hand vehicle when, in fact, it was imported as a brand new vehicle.
The State alleges Mrerwa connived with Mahembe and Simfukwe to have the vehicle imported in her name instead of Efrtrade Ventures, with the aim of exerting pressure on junior officers at Zimra Beitbridge border post.
The junior staffers are then said to have acted according to the counterfeit import documents, thereby, giving Mrerwa a bigger discount in import duty than was due.
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Allegations are that due to her actions, Mrerwa prejudiced the State of $24 156,17.
On the other hand, Majengwa and Chihuri are alleged to have used the same method, resulting in them prejudicing the State of $32 825,18 and $52 985,61 respectively.
The State alleges Majengwa undervalued a Toyota Landcruiser, while Chihuri is said to have undervalued two Toyota Landcruisers.
Sebastian Mutizirwa is appearing for the State.
