By Correspondent.
Zimbabwe Inland Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) have been found wanting in a whistle blowing encounter where a UK based Zimbabwean man Felix Nyamayaro imported a vehicle into Zimbabwe and officials at ZIMRA used fake receipts.
For over a year ZIMRA failed to notice that one particluar vehicle Vauxhaul Insignia belonging to Felix Nyamayaro had entered the country and from the 6 point checks a cc was not issued.
Stranger than fiction but ZIMRA claims some forgery tool place within their staff but they still failed to arrest any of their staff from the 6 point checks especially the ones who conducted the first physical examination check of the vehicle.
Vauxhall Insignia at centre of ZIMRA corruption case
Zimbabwe is crippled by a high level of corruption which has had an adverse effect on the economy. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for an end to corruption. Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission was also set up to deal with corruption cases. It is interesting to see how ZACC will handle this case as information will now be forwarded to them.
News of The South contacted Mr Chadzingwa to seek comment on the issue and why the vehicle has been impounded from Mr Nyamayaro but Mr Chadzingwa failed to respond. As of today the car has been impounded from Mr Nyamayaro for three weeks.
Details and events of the imported Vauxhall Insignia are as listed in the letter below which reads as follows:
OPPOSITION TO LETTER OF IMPOUND OF VEHICLE
Defendant’s address: ….
Date : 29 January 2020
To : ZIMRA – Mr Madzingwa
Plaintiff’s Address: ZIMRA Head Office
Kurima House
Nelson Mandela Avenue
Harare
RE: OPPOSITION TO LETTER OF IMPOUND OF VEHICLE: VAUXHALL INSIGNIA
Response to details of claim.
The issue raised by the plaintiff that the vehicle was smuggled from United Kingdom is baseless, unjustifiable and is nothing short of a fishing expedition in a bathtub. I clearly unambiguously and unequivocally assert that the plaintiff is attempting to misconstrue the truth and hence tarnish the image of the Defendant. The facts of the matter are as follows:
1. Sometime in May 2019, the defendant (Felix Nyamayaro), represented by Josephine Nyamayaro, the defendant’s son Clive Nyamayaro, Judith Basvi and the defendant’s Brother Bond Nyamayaro took off from Harare after having received information from one Hinton Sibanda that the vehicle in question had arrived at Beitbridge Border post and agreed that they would jointly assist the clearing agent who was represented by Mr. Thomas at that point in time. Daniel Piki who was part of Team Nyamayaro remained in Harare for logistical purposes involving the smooth subsistence and travel of family members on the mission of the said vehicle.
2. The Defendant was made to pay USD 1,990.00 for duty and storage as prescribed by the clearing Agent Representative (Mr Thomas). Where upon the Defendant was told the CC document would be availed at a later date as it needed processing and the vehicle was released in to the Defendant’s custody and hence was driven home to Harare on the pretext that everything had been done above Board.
3. It only came as a surprise that the CC document was not being released in reasonable time. A fact which started raising the Defendant’s suspicions that something was amiss. The Defendant went a step further by making his own investigations and even went to ZIMRA Head Office to make a report. He made an international phone call and spoke to one Yvonne Mashonganyika in a bid to get in touch with any of the Commissioners at the ZIMRA Head Office. He however was referred back to a Mr Chikuni who was said to be the Head at Beitbridge ZIMRA branch. Mr Chikuni then informed the Defendant that the invoice issued on the vehicle in question had been fraudulently forged and was invalid.
4. The Defendant never contributed any smuggling whatsoever. Payment was innocently provided by the Defendant right from the storage fees to Duty per se.
5. After payment both parties pursuant to their agreement concluded the deal of clearing the vehicle.
6. The defendant never raised any suspicions at first as he managed to sail through roadblocks and all paper work seemed ok including the Invoice later portrayed as being forged. He took his car home which he gladly started driving around and only to find it impounded through a letter of demand thereafter.
7. The Plaintiff never initiated any mediatory or conciliatory effort if he was genuinely aggrieved.
8. After the defendant alerted the Plaintiff through his phone calls only then did he write a letter of demand which has no basis over and above being an unquestionable sign of unfairness which is contrary to the spirit of the whistle blowing initiative.
9. If the plaintiff stands by his claim, he is put to strictest proof thereof since the burden of proof is upon him. “He who alleges must prove.” This is an age-old common law principle which must be strictly observed.
10. The defendant accordingly dismisses this claim with the contempt it deserves.
11. Instead the blame should be pointed at the ZIMRA personnel involved as well as the clearing Agent if he worked in cahoots with the unscrupulous ZIMRA workers who manned the Border Post then.
12. No level of intimidation and fraudulent misrepresentation of facts will make the defendant to agree with such evil attempts to rob him of his vehicle or the use of it which has to date been denied.
Please be guided accordingly.
…… (For Felix Nyamayaro)
…………………………………………………
Signature
Another letter sent to Mr Chadzinga the station manager at ZIMRA Beitbridge post reads as follows:
Dear Mr Chadzingwa.
I would like to ask how can it take Zimra upto a year without noticing in their books that there is a vehicle which passed through them on a 6 point check that a cc was not issued.
Surely this car came in order with its shipping documents correct via Durban from UK and was received in the receiving department and then let out but you dont know that it was dispatched 10 month after. That should honestly be water tight and Zimra itself must admit a loophole/disorderly in its management information system (MIS).
Why is Zimra as it alleges forgery not arresting all the people in this 6 point check line especially those who did the initial physical examination.
Its folly to impound innocent people’s vehicle when infact its clear that the system has no proper record book for checks and balances as well as accountability of their receiving and dispatch.
It shouldn’t have taken me to tip Zimra that the car left its premises. Mr Chikuni didnt have a clue at all where the vehicle was. He had to ask me and Zimra cant be run like a tuckshop like this.
The whole MIS needs a revamp to show that an item has been received and it was despatched.
There is need for a point of sale “POS software system” which help track goods in and goods out. It is clear that Zimra has seized my car for its failures and a broken down checkpoint.
Its very unfortunate that I am caught in between this mess. This is detroying me mentally. I will never ever report corruption again in Zimbabwe. If I see someone dying there I will live them. 3 weeks down the line I have no proper explanation of the crime I did and or how I could have avoided it. Is this the ease of doing business?
Once again I beg you that you return my vehicle while you carry on your investigations. Vehicles lose values with time and by holding my car without reason you are prejudicing me for no apparent reason. You really know that I am not at fault but its your system and employees. Please bring back my car?
Yours faithfully
Felix Nyamayaro
All documentation concerning the importation of the vehicle from UK to Zimbabwe in the possession of News of The South indicates that everything is in order and above board on the part of businessman Felix Nyamayaro. Nyamayaro is a hard working respectabke businessman on the UK he has run several businesses in Wolverhampton and other parts of the UK and he is very supportive in the Zimbabwean community in the UK.
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