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A corrupt syndicate of customs officers at the Victoria Falls border post has been busted for illegally facilitating the importation of vehicles older than 10 years, in violation of government regulations. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) uncovered the scam, which has exposed potential large-scale corruption at the border.
The government, through Statutory Instrument 54 of 2024, banned the importation of vehicles exceeding 10 years from the date of manufacture. However, three customs officers Philip Kuvenga (28), Rangariraishe Zingwe (29), and Jean Felix Kadaro (30) allegedly manipulated import documents to bypass this law. Residing at UTC houses near the border, the trio falsified paperwork to clear restricted vehicles, misleading their supervisors to gain approval before later altering the official records.
The scheme unraveled when authorities discovered that the officers had processed and cleared a vehicle that had not even arrived in Zimbabwe. This anomaly prompted a deeper investigation, leading to their immediate suspension and subsequent arrest.
The three appeared separately before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Mr. Gift Manyika, facing charges of criminal abuse of office as public officers. They were denied bail and remanded in custody until February 17, when their trial is set to commence.
Prosecutors revealed that the offenses took place between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. The accused allegedly assisted in the importation of several banned vehicles, fully aware that they violated S.I. 54/2024. Acting individually and in collusion, they would receive documents either electronically or manually from clients and manipulate valuation sheets and the motor vehicle import register. To deceive their supervisors, they reportedly altered chassis numbers to obscure the true age of the vehicles.
Once the falsified documents were approved, the accused would then input the correct details into the ASYCUDA World System ZIMRA’s customs management platform while simultaneously modifying or replacing the earlier fraudulent paperwork. This elaborate scheme allowed the vehicles to be released undetected, in line with standard border clearance procedures.
The fraud was exposed when ZIMRA detected a vehicle that had been officially registered despite not yet entering Zimbabwe. This triggered a thorough audit, ultimately leading to the arrests.
The prosecution has been divided, with Mrs. Portia Moyo handling the cases of Kuvenga and Zingwe, while Ms. Audrey Mukanganya is prosecuting Kadaro. With the scandal now before the courts, the case highlights growing concerns over corruption within border operations and raises questions about how many more vehicles may have entered the country illegally through similar fraudulent schemes.
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