The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officer and two clearing agents for orchestrating the smuggling of 140 bales of clothing weighing 30 tonnes from Tanzania, in a sophisticated racket that defrauded the state of crucial duty payments.
Emmanuel Munyaradzi Charimari, a ZIMRA Revenue Officer stationed at the Chirundu One Stop Border Post, faces criminal abuse of duty charges. Clearing agents Basil Tawanda Gayihayi and Takudzwa Hamilton Nyikadzino have been slapped with fraud charges, while an accomplice, Ishmael Gezani, remains at large.
The truck, which had been illegally cleared into Zimbabwe, was intercepted by ZACC in Chitungwiza on 15 July 2026.
Charimari, who was manning the Southbound gate on 14 July 2026, unlawfully facilitated the entry of the smuggled cargo without following standard procedures.
“Charimari, in his capacity as the final clearance officer, knowingly ignored mandatory clearance procedures, thereby prejudicing ZIMRA,” said a ZACC in a statement.
The officer reportedly failed to receive and verify clearance documentation, check the consignment on the ASYCUDA system, or record the vehicle’s details in the prescribed registers.
“The accused acted contrary to his duties when he deliberately bypassed all verification protocols.”
On the Zambian side, Gayihayi allegedly created a fake set of clearing documents, falsely declaring the 30-tonne cargo as just 50 drums of honey weighing 22,000 kilogrammes in transit to South Africa.
“Gayihayi falsely declared the 30-tonne cargo as 50 drums of honey weighing 22,000 kilogrammes in transit to South Africa to evade duty,” the commission stated.
Gayihayi then assigned Nyikadzino to present the forged documents to ZIMRA officials.
“Nyikadzino was assigned to present forged documents to ZIMRA officials, leading to the successful smuggling of the goods into Zimbabwe without payment of duty,” ZACC confirmed.
All three were arrested at Chirundu One Stop Border Post on 27 July 2026 and appeared at the Kariba Magistrates’ Court. They were remanded out of custody on USD 200.00 bail each.
