Zimra loses US$621,000 and Z$142 million to 1 woman who illegally helped import over 400 cars within a year

HARARE – A massive fraud involving the issuance of fake vehicle import tax rebate letters has left the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) with a staggering loss of US$621 742 and Z$142 669 605 in unpaid excise duty.

At the heart of this scheme is Yvonne Tambudzai Musoni, a former Zimra employee who allegedly masterminded the operation, issuing over 400 fraudulent rebate letters within a single year.

The details of this elaborate fraud were revealed in an affidavit submitted to the High Court by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) investigator Mr Rennie Malemelo, supporting an application by Prosecutor-General Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo to seize and forfeit vehicles imported fraudulently.

The application seeks to recover assets from 36 individuals who allegedly abused the civil servants rebate scheme, which allows civil servants with 10 years of service to import one vehicle duty-free.

According to the ZACC investigator, investigations uncovered that 186 of the rebate letters issued by Musoni were not registered at the Harare port and had not been approved by the port manager. These fraudulent activities allowed individuals to import vehicles without paying the required import duties, resulting in significant financial losses for Zimra.

The investigation has also revealed that Musoni, along with her husband Melusi Paul Musoni and a family trust, are facing civil actions that could see them lose their upmarket house, vehicles, and other assets, including credit balances in the fees accounts of two private schools. These assets are believed to be tainted by the proceeds of the fraudulent scheme.

Justice Matanda-Moyo, in her application to the High Court, stated that Musoni was the “common denominator” in this case, perpetuating the unlawful use of forged documents, misrepresentation of facts, and eventual money laundering.

She allegedly hacked her boss’s electronic signature to fraudulently approve vehicle imports, enabling individuals to circumvent the proper procedures.

The application also highlights concerns regarding the addresses provided by some of the beneficiaries, suggesting that many may be false. Justice Matanda-Moyo believes that these false addresses were a deliberate attempt to obfuscate any traces of criminal activity.

The investigation into this case is ongoing, and it is expected that more individuals involved in the scheme will be brought before the courts.