Two Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officers stationed at Plumtree Border Post have been granted US$500 bail each after appearing in court on charges of criminal abuse of duty over the alleged clearance of two luxury vehicles worth a combined US$981,049 without physical inspections.
The vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 and a Lamborghini Urus, are linked to Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the son of former president Robert Mugabe.
Upenyu Chaurura, 51, and Edwin Mhondiwa Chabuda, 43, allegedly worked with Tafadzwa Pedzisai, who is still at large, to fraudulently clear the vehicles through the ASYCUDA customs management system by indicating that they had left the country.
The two appeared before regional magistrate Mark Dzira and were remanded to November 25, 2026.
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They were ordered to reside at their given addresses, surrender their travel documents and not interfere with State witnesses.
The accused are represented by Simbarashe Madzivire of Mashayamombe Co & Attorneys.
Prosecutor Vhusani Moyo told the court that Chaurura, who was employed as a Private Imports Revenue Officer at Plumtree Border Post, allegedly cleared the Mercedes-Benz GLE 53, bearing South African registration number NB76MMGP, on October 2, 2026.
The vehicle was valued at US$162,360 and had entered Zimbabwe on June 9, 2026, under a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) due to expire on August 11, 2026.
Moyo told the court that Chaurura allegedly worked with Pedzisai to clear the permit in the ASYCUDA system, falsely indicating that the vehicle had left the country.
“The accused person, working in connivance with one Tafadzwa Pedzisai, acquitted the TIP of the Mercedes-Benz GLE 53, attesting that the vehicle had left the country whereas the vehicle was in actual fact in the country,” Moyo said.
The State alleges that Chaurura did not physically inspect the vehicle to establish its presence at the border. It was later recovered at Brompton Guest House in Zimbabwe.
The alleged offence resulted in a loss of US$79,818 in customs duty to ZIMRA, according to the State.
In a separate incident, Chabuda allegedly cleared a Lamborghini Urus, bearing South African registration number TL00GP, on July 12, 2026.
The vehicle, valued at US$818,689, had entered Zimbabwe on June 9, 2026, under a TIP that was due to expire on July 9, 2026.
Moyo told the court that Chabuda also allegedly worked with Pedzisai to clear the permit in the system, falsely recording that the vehicle had exited Zimbabwe.
“The accused person, working in connivance with one Tafadzwa Pedzisai, acquitted the TIP of the Lamborghini Urus, attesting that the vehicle had left the country whereas the vehicle was in actual fact in the country,” Moyo said.
The vehicle was allegedly recovered at Brompton Guest House in Harare.
The State alleges that the incident prejudiced ZIMRA of US$469,472 in customs duty.
Moyo said the officers’ duties included issuing temporary import permits, physically inspecting vehicles to confirm their presence and verifying their exit from the country before clearing the permits in the ASYCUDA system.
The State alleges that the officers abused their positions to confer an undue or illegal benefit on Pedzisai, prejudicing ZIMRA’s administration and revenue collection.
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