ZIMRA Agent & Civil Servant Fabricate Rebate Letters
A civil servant is now entangled in a legal predicament, facing charges of fraud due to a fabricated rebate letter associated with the importation of a car.
Dealers Using Civil Servants' Rebate Letters to Import Cars
Never Matika, aged 43, recently appeared before the Harare Magistrate Court, accused of fraudulent activities. Matika was granted bail, and his trial is scheduled for the 6th of February.
In October 2022, Matika expressed interest in purchasing a Nissan Lafesta available through a dealership where Misheck Chumuka was employed.
Upon selecting the 2012 Nissan Lafesta, Matika, identifying himself as a civil servant, intended to utilize the government’s rebate scheme for the purchase.
Matika proceeded to apply for the rebate, seeking to import the chosen car duty-free.
However, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) rejected the application, citing that the car, manufactured in March 2012, exceeded the ten-year limit for duty-free imports.
Chimuka, in collaboration with ZIMRA Official Yvonne Tambudzai Musoni, then devised a fraudulent plan.
Matika was instructed to pay a $1,300 bribe to ensure the unauthorized importation of the car.
ZIMRA Agent & Civil Servant Fabricate Rebate Letters
Colluding with Musoni, Chimuka counterfeited a letter and submitted it to the ZIMRA Beitbridge Border post for customs pre-clearance.
Despite efforts to verify the authenticity of the letter, a ZIMRA official, Sharon Maromba, unknowingly approved the fake document.
Subsequent investigations unveiled that the reference number used in Matika’s ‘approved’ letter had originally belonged to another civil servant.
This reference number had been previously used to obtain a Subaru Impreza Sports under the same government scheme.
Matika, the primary accused, and his collaborators attempted to deceive ZIMRA, evading import duty amounting to $3,489.
