The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested four Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials on allegations of demanding payment from a transport operator to facilitate release of a bus impounded during an ongoing operation to curb smuggling.
The accused persons, Maguta Jonathan, Mitwira Obert, Homera Simon, and Gwatirinda Paul, who are employed as Revenue Officers are facing extortion charges or alternatively, criminal abuse of duty as public officers.
Circumstances are that a bus from Best Express Logistics was impounded during an ongoing operation to curb smuggling and the company was ordered to pay excise duty of ZWG55 000.00.
After paying the required excise duty, the accused persons allegedly demanded US$6 000.00 from Beatrice Maramwidze, a director at Best Express Logistics as payment to facilitate the release of the bus from BAK Storage in Harare.
Maramwidze reported the matter to ZACC and an investigation was launched resulting in the arrest of the accused persons after accepting US1 500.00 bribe, while in a ZIMRA branded vehicle.
Upon searching the ZIMRA vehicle, an additional US$3 951.00, suspected to be part of extorted bribes, was recovered.
The accused persons are detained at Avondale Police Station and are expected to appear at Harare Magistrate Court tomorrow (11 January, 2025).
