Two Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) employees were
yesterday sentenced to 36 months imprisonment each by a Harare magistrate after
they were convicted of undercharging goods belonging to the wife of Energy
minister Joram Gumbo, Eristinah, at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International
Airport.
Tendai Hombiro and Moses Nyango, who pleaded not guilty to
the charges of criminal abuse of office, appeared before magistrate Hosea
Mujaya.
However, Hombiro and Nyango will serve 27 months effective
jail time after the magistrate suspended nine months on condition of good
behaviour.
The duo denied the offence, saying Eristinah was trying to
use her husband’s influence in government to get them convicted.
The court heard that on May 16 this year, Eristinah
presented her declaration of duty form to Hombiro and Nyango, who were
stationed at RGM International Airport national handling services, and they
undercharged her duty by $1 447, as she was made to pay $489 instead of $1 936.
After noting that her duty was undercharged, Eristinah
raised alarm to Gumbo, who then informed the Zimra management and ordered them
to resolve the matter.
A second examination was carried out on the consignment and
it was discovered that the duo had undercharged duty.
It was also discovered that on the same day, the duo met
Loice Chakanyuka, who presented her airway bill and declaration form for her
goods to be cleared.
The duo carried out physical examination on the
consignment, which was coming from China under the name of Tapiwa.
An assessment of duty was made and a duty of $489 was made
to be paid on receipt.
The goods, which included pants and headphones, were said
to be weighing 80kg with a total value of $300.
The court heard that Hombiro and Nyango, who are public
officers, intentionally omitted to weigh the consignment as per Zimra norm and
the goods were re-examined and they found out that they were weighing 92kg.
Nancy Chandakaona appeared for the State.Newsday
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