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Fungai Lupande Senior Court Reporter

Former principal director of State Residences in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Douglas Tapfuma, who is accused of facilitating the importation of about 100 vehicles without paying excise duty, yesterday told the High Court that he “returned” two Toyota Hiace omnibuses to Kwekwe City Council where they are being used as ambulances.

Tapfuma, through his lawyer Mr Jonathan Samukange, is making a bail application at the High Court, saying police are failing to progress with investigations into the matter.

He told High Court judge Justice Davison Foroma that the police had enough time from July 30 this year to make headway in the investigation.

“State has not progressed with investigations and the lapse of time is a changed circumstance,” said Mr Samukange.

“The court a quo erred, holding that appellant will interfere with State witnesses despite being moved to another section of the department.

“Provision of a trial date is not a ground to deny bail. State did not oppose that two Toyota Hiace Omnibuses have been returned to Kwekwe City Council where they are used as ambulances.”

The State will respond to the supplementary bail statement tomorrow.

Allegations against Tapfuma arose when he purchased two personal minibuses from South Africa under the guise of Government on April 10, 2018.

On April 17, 2018, he allegedly assigned Bonani Ganyane, an officer working in the transport section of the Department of State Residences to proceed to Beitbridge and facilitate clearance of the two vehicles on behalf of the department using report order forms as if they were Government vehicles.

After clearing the alleged vehicles, Ganyane advised Tapfuma, who instructed him to hand the vehicles over to Vongaishe Mupereri, who at that time was National Assembly Member for Mbizo constituency.

The court heard that on April 20, 2018, Tapfuma made an application to the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet requesting for duty-free certificates in the name of the President’s Department which were issued.

Tapfuma allegedly applied for duty exemption for the vehicles at Zimra which was granted.

He then registered the vehicles at Central Vehicles Registry under the name of the President’s Department and started using the vehicles in his personal capacity.

The alleged vehicles were liable to paying duty amounting to US$3 180.

The court heard that on the second and third counts, Tapfuma allegedly purchased an additional of five personal vehicles between June and August last year from South Africa.

A Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) investigations officer told a magistrates court that 15 of the vehicles were recovered and 75, including Isuzu twin-cab vehicles, have been identified.