Zimra scammers to lose fraudulently imported cars

Nyore Madzianike

INDIVIDUALS who allegedly connived with a former Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) official to defraud the Government through a civil servants’ vehicle rebate scheme could lose their cars after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) lodged an application at the High Court for a civil forfeiture order.

Tambudzai Yvonne Musoni — a former Zimra office assistant at the centre of the scandal, who is reportedly on the run — is accused of hacking into her supervisor’s computer before allegedly forging signatures and approving the importation of over 400 vehicles under the guise of the civil servants’ rebate scheme.

An investigation by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission implicated Musoni, prompting the Prosecutor-General to approach the High Court, seeking an order freezing property belonging to Musoni and her husband Melusi. The property includes a house, vehicles and US$28 625 held in the bank accounts of Watershed College and US$18 940 in those of Lusitania Primary School paid in advance for their children’s school fees.

The order has since been granted.

Subsequently, the NPA, through its director of the Asset Management Unit, Mr Chris Mutangadura, filed a separate civil forfeiture application at the High Court, asking for an order allowing the State to seize vehicles bought by 30 people accused of conniving with Musoni to fraudulently import the cars.

The NPA is alleging that Zimra was prejudiced of about US$64 179 and ZWL10 512 362.

The majority of the cases linked to Musoni’s alleged scheme remain under investigation. “The applicant received a docket from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, in respect of criminal activities around importation of motor vehicles by the respondents using civil servants’ vehicle import duty exemption scheme that was introduced by the Government as a policy measure to allow civil servants to import motor vehicles without paying import duty,” said Mr Mutangadura in his application.

“In every situation, I made observations regarding the unlawful activities whose proceeds of crime manifest in the unlawful importation of the vehicles as shall be made clear hereunder.

“At the heart of this application is a grand scheme by the respondents to criminally abuse an otherwise genuine and well-meaning Government policy meant to benefit civil servants who qualified for tax exemption of motor vehicles imported by them, save for those respondents cited in their official capacities who are innocent as regards the stinging criminal allegations I shall lay bare in these papers.”

Noah Munongoverwa, Agness Matsvairo, Peteous Ndovorwi, Patricia Mudzimba, Johnson Sithole, Tariro Marvelous Chisvo, Antonio Slyvester, Justice Masawi, Ruwadzano Gloria, Dube Appronia, Benda Sambizi and Itai Rebecca Jamba are cited as respondents.

The other respondents are Tendai Chirozva, Nyasha Chigamba, Tapiwa Gono, Douglas Chazireni, Maxwell Mukaro, Elvis Murauro, Dennis Dzikiti, Sarudzai Kaseke, Nyandundu Simon, Mahachi Demetrio, Manhango, Dilan Chigama, Alice Mazikana, Charity Mapira, Lazarus Musamba and Mungofa Runyararo.

Mr Mutangadura cited Musoni as the first respondent.

“In respect of the first to sixth respondents, their case revolves around my desire to identify the criminal activities by first respondent Tambudzai Yvonne Musoni, who masterminded participation of the rest of the other respondents in perpetuating unlawful use of forged documents, misrepresentation of facts and eventual money laundering arising from calculated scheme to defraud the Government of Zimbabwe of its revenue by benefiting individuals cited who imported vehicles without proper procedures and lawful paperwork,” he said.

“Resultantly, first respondent Tambudzai Yvonne Musoni ended up deriving a benefit by taking bribes from her accomplices, which generated the property now subject of a property freezing order by the High Court.

“The property specified above was acquired by the respondent through unlawful activity, knowing, believing or suspecting that it is proceeds of crime.”

In the application, Mr Mutangadura indicated that some of the people who connived with Musoni would undervalue the imported car or use fake civil servants’ rebate letters.

He indicated that some would use fraudulently issued rebate clearance letters.