Car Dealer in Court for forging documents
A Harare car dealer has found himself in legal trouble after allegedly forging documents to import a Mercedes Benz without paying the required duties.
Panashe Chawatama, aged 26, appeared before a Harare magistrate on charges of fraud, stemming from his attempt to defraud the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) of potential revenue.
According to the state’s case, Chawatama, in collusion with an accomplice named Yvonne Musoni (who remains at large), fraudulently imported the luxury vehicle using the name of a deceased civil servant, Munyaradzi Chanakira, and exploiting the government’s vehicle rebate scheme.
The duo reportedly purchased a Mercedes Benz E-Class in South Africa on May 22, 2022, using Chanakira’s name. In August, they attempted to clear the vehicle through the Beitbridge Border Post without paying the necessary import duties.
Chawatama is accused of forging a rebate letter, dated August 1, 2022, and presenting it to a Zimra official at the border post. Musoni, upon being contacted, allegedly confirmed the authenticity of the forged document, leading the Zimra official to waive the import duty.
However, the investigation revealed that Chanakira had actually applied and received authorization to import a Toyota Vitz, not a Mercedes Benz. Furthermore, it was discovered that Chanakira had passed away in July 2022, prior to the attempted importation of the luxury vehicle.
As a result of this elaborate scheme, Zimra was deprauded of an estimated $9,500 in potential revenue.
Chawatama now faces the consequences of his actions, as he was remanded in custody and is set to apply for bail on August 16th. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of integrity and accountability in the import and customs processes, as the authorities continue their crackdown on such fraudulent activities.
