Four ZIMRA officials arrested for demanding, accepting US$1,500 bribe

FOUR Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials have been arrested for demanding and receiving bribe money.

The quartet of Maguta Jonathan, Mitwira Obert, Homera Simon and Gwatirinda Paul, all revenue officers, faces charges of extortion or, alternatively, criminal abuse of duty as public officers.

They were nabbed by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) investigators on charges of extortion after allegedly demanding a bribe from a transport operator to facilitate the release of a bus impounded during an anti-smuggling blitz.

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.