Story by Tichaona Kurewa
Two Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officers stationed at Victoria Falls have appeared in court facing charges of criminal abuse of office.
The accused, Philip Kuvenga and Rangariraishe Zingwe, both ZIMRA customs officers stationed at the Victoria Falls Border Post, are alleged to have unlawfully facilitated the importation of 20 motor vehicles older than ten years, in violation of Statutory Instrument 54 of 2024.
The alleged offenses occurred between January and December 2024.
The prosecution alleges that the pair received documents, both electronically and manually, from clients.
They then completed valuation processes, altered vehicle chassis numbers and submitted these falsified documents to their supervisor for approval.
This manipulation of chassis numbers was reportedly done to deceive the supervisor during the vehicle age verification process.
After obtaining supervisory approval based on the altered information, the accused would enter the correct chassis numbers into the ASYCUDA World System.
It is further alleged that they would then alter the physical valuation sheets or replace the documents previously submitted to the supervisor with the correct details before final processing.
The accused are also alleged to have released the vehicles without recording them in the release register or insuring their registration, as required by station standing instructions.
The alleged offenses came to light when a vehicle, which had not yet physically arrived in Zimbabwe, was discovered to have already been registered.
A subsequent investigation led to the arrest of the two officers.
The accused were remanded in custody to the 3rd of this month for bail ruling.
