By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Two men have been convicted by the Mutare Magistrates’ Court for attempting to smuggle nearly 500 sacks of groundnuts into Zimbabwe without clearance from customs authorities.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPA) confirmed that Willard Obete Luis (37) of Manica, Mozambique, and Oscar Makawi (37) of Dangamvura, Mutare, were found guilty of contravening the Customs and Excise Act after their truckload of groundnuts was intercepted by police.
On August 23, police officers on patrol along Beira Road stopped a truck being driven by Luis. Upon inspection, the vehicle was found carrying 458 sacks of groundnuts belonging to Makawi, but no declaration papers could be produced for the consignment.
The truck and goods were escorted to ZRP Mutare Central and later handed over to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), which confirmed the consignment had been smuggled. Authorities said the state stood to lose US$2,500 in potential revenue.
The court ordered the forfeiture of the goods to the state. Luis and Makawi were each sentenced to pay a US$1,000 fine, or serve 12 months in prison if they fail to pay.
In a statement, the NPA stressed that smuggling undermines national development by depriving the state of critical revenue. Communities were urged to play their part by reporting illicit cross-border activities.