By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has responded to the recent arrest of four of its officers who stand accused of extorting bribes from cross-border transporters.
The officers identified as Paul Gwatirinda (42), Obert Mutwira (40), Simon Homera (38), and Jonathan Maguta (38)—are alleged to have solicited bribes with the intention of releasing confiscated goods during a joint operation with the Zimbabwe Republic Police aimed at combating smuggling.
According to court reports, the alleged misconduct took place on January 9 at BAK Storage, where a complainant revealed that the officers demanded a staggering US$6,000 for the release of his impounded bus.
This led the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to initiate a sting operation to catch the officers in the act.
Prosecutors outlined that the complainant was instructed to pay ZWL55,000 in excise duty before handing over US$1,500, which was part of the trap money arranged by ZACC.
The money exchange took place inside a ZIMRA-marked Toyota Hilux, and the officers were arrested on the spot with the trap money recovered, alongside an additional US$3,951 believed to have been extorted from other transporters.
In a public statement, ZIMRA condemned the alleged actions of its employees, reaffirming its commitment to integrity within the organization.
“We do not condone or abet any form of corruption, decisive disciplinary action will be taken against those involved, guided by our internal Code of Conduct,” the statement declared.
ZIMRA urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any instances of corruption, asserting that public cooperation and vigilance are vital in eradicating such malpractices.
The agency reminded citizens to validate the identity of its officials, who are required to be in uniform and carry name tags.
“If in doubt, stakeholders are advised to confirm legitimacy by calling our official contact lines,” the statement added.
The accused have been charged with criminal abuse of office, and they remain in custody as they await a ruling on their bail application.