Business Reporter
A clearing agent at the Beitbridge Border Post, Shepherd Emmanuel Nyamayaro, has been charged with facilitating the importation of a vehicle using a fraudulent rebate letter.
Nyamayaro allegedly assisted Noel Kororo in creating a fake ZIMRA rebate letter that exempted him from paying US$5,280 in duty for a BMW 5 Series imported from Japan.
According to prosecutor Ms. Mercy Masamvi, the scam unfolded in September 2022 when Kororo purchased the vehicle and applied for a rebate. Before the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development could approve the application, Kororo sought Nyamayaro’s help to generate a fake rebate letter. Nyamayaro presented a counterfeit letter dated November 3, 2022, which misrepresented the duty exemption.
Acting on this fraudulent document, a ZIMRA officer, Allen Dudzayi Zengwa, processed and cleared the vehicle into the country. The rebate application was later approved on November 7, 2022, after the fake clearance letter had already been submitted. As a result, ZIMRA incurred a loss of US$5,284 due to the unpaid import duty. Nyamayaro has been remanded out of custody until November 9, while Kororo is already on remand.
Armed Robbery at Financial Institution
In a separate incident, a financial institution in Mumvuri, Shurugwi, was targeted by four armed robbers who made off with nearly US$5,000 and R24,000. The robbery occurred on October 19, 2024, around 2 AM. The suspects, armed with machetes, first attacked a security guard before breaking into the financial institution and stealing cash.
The robbers also broke into a nearby shop, stealing an additional US$1,000. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and stated that the police are actively investigating the case. The suspects not only targeted the financial institution but also attacked an occupant of an agro-chemical shop, stealing US$30 and a Huawei P30 cellphone.
Conclusion
These incidents highlight ongoing issues of fraud and crime in Zimbabwe, with significant implications for both financial institutions and regulatory bodies like ZIMRA.
The legal proceedings against Nyamayaro and Kororo will be closely watched, while the police continue their efforts to apprehend the armed robbers in Shurugwi.
Zim GBC News©2024