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Thupeyo Muleya: Beitbridge Bureau

A bogus customs clearing agent has been arrested for smuggling 102 tonnes of washing powder into the country after misrepresenting to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) that the consignment was destined for Zambia.Under the country’s Customs laws, goods passing through Zimbabwe en-route to other countries do not attract excise duty. Joseph Mavakise (27) of 2817 Dulibadzimu Township was not asked to plead to charges of fraud involving $50 000 when he appeared before Mr Innocent Bepura, who remanded him to November 10 on $250 bail, pending trial.

Prosecuting, Mr Jabulani Mberesi told the court that the accused was an unregistered customs clearing agent based in the border town. He said on June 7 this year, Mavakise connived to defraud Zimra with one Mandla Moyo, who is already on remand, and one Kelvin Moyo, who is still at large.

He added that the accused and his accomplices forged export documents for 102 tonnes of MAQ washing powder, which were being imported from South Africa under the guise that they were en-route to Zambia via Chirundu Border Post.

Mr Mberesi said since the accused is unregistered with Zimra, he approached DAGS Trading to process the documents for the washing powder, which was loaded in three trucks on transit to Zambia.

Dags Trading then processed the documents unbeknown to them that Mavakise had supplied forged documents. They were then issued with bill of entries to facilitate the transition of the washing powder. However, the trucks were driven to Harare where the accused’s accomplice, Moyo, was waiting for the consignment.

The court further heard that on July 18, Moyo was arrested while offloading one of the three trucks at 22-26 Leopold Takawira Street in Harare. Investigations led to Mavakise’s arrest, and it was also established that the other two trucks had offloaded the contraband at No. 1087, Tynwald South Industrial Area in Harare.

Mr Mberesi said as a result of the misrepresentation, Zimra lost $49 785,39 in import revenue.