Four ZIMRA officials Arrested Over $1,500 bribe

Four Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officers have been detained for requesting and accepting bribes.

The quartet revenue officials, Maguta Jonathan, Mitwira Obert, Homera Simon, and Gwatirinda Paul, are charged with extortion or criminal abuse of duty as public servants.

They were arrested by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) detectives on allegations of extortion after reportedly demanding a bribe from a transport operator to enable the release of a bus impounded during an anti-smuggling operation.

According to ZACC, the accused demanded US$6,000 from Beatrice Maramwidze, director of Best Express Logistics, after the company paid ZWG55,000 in excess duty for a bus seized during a clampdown.

Maramwidze reported the matter to ZACC, leading to an investigation.

The accused were arrested after accepting a US$1,500 bribe while aboard a ZIMRA-branded vehicle.

During a search, ZACC investigators recovered an additional US$3,951, suspected to be part of the extorted cash.

The suspects are currently detained at Avondale Police Station and are expected to appear in Harare Magistrate Court tomorrow, January 11, 2025.

ZACC urged the public and the business community to report any instances of corruption.