The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has seized a vehicle belonging to Zimdancehall artist Bessel Mugo Parewa, widely known as Hwindi President, as part of its ongoing crackdown on fraudulently imported motor vehicles.
In collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), ZIMRA has established roadblocks across the country and is conducting random checks at various shopping malls to enforce compliance with vehicle import regulations.
In a post on his Facebook account, Hwindi President shared an image of the Chevrolet vehicle, which bears South African plates, and appealed to his fans for support in his efforts to seek exoneration from the authorities. He wrote:
<blockquote>
GUYS NDIBATSIREIWO KUKUMBIRA RUREGERERO KUZIMRA GUYS NDAPERERWA WO LAST OF LAST MONTH NDAKAPAZIRWA IMBA NOW ZIMRA NDAKAPARA MHOSVA YEKUONEKWA NDICHIDRIVER MOTA YANGU..NDAIFUNGA KUTI NDICHABHADHARISWAWO FINE KWETE KUBVA NDATORERWA MOTA YACHO ZVACHOSE….GUYS MOTA HANDINA KUIBA IYI NDAKAITENGAWO NDATONZWA NEKUSEKWA PASTREET AND MAPAPERS ESE NDINAWO….NDIBATSIREIWO KUKUMBIRA RUREGERERO GUYS PLEASE inga ndiri mwana wemunowo MUZIMBABWE amana ndakanyanyotadzei.
(Guys, please help me ask for forgiveness from ZIMRA. I am desperate. Last month, my house was destroyed, and now ZIMRA has charged me with the offense of being seen driving my car. I thought I would just be fined, but instead, they took my car away completely. Guys, I did not steal this car; I bought it legally. I was being laughed at on the streets, and I have all the necessary papers. Please help me ask for forgiveness. I am a fellow Zimbabwean; what did I do wrong to deserve this?)
</blockquote>
In an interview with <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/life-amp-style/article/200034226/hwindi-president-car-impounded-as-zimra-intensifies-clampdown-on-smuggling">NewsDay</a>, Hwindi President revealed that his car was impounded at a Masvingo roadblock while driving from Beitbridge to Harare on August 27. He said:
<blockquote>
Upon being stopped at the roadblock in Masvingo I was told the name on the TIP (Temporary Import Permit) was not mine and I had to come with the person whose name was on the document for verification of which he had stayed behind in Beitbridge.
By the time he got to Masvingo they (ZIMRA) were already gone along with my car. When we arrived at their offices, where my car was being held, they told me it was too late to do the process.
</blockquote>
The musician stated that he was instructed to submit appeals via email to ZIMRA management while incurring a charge of US$10 for each day his vehicle remains in custody.
This incident marks yet another misfortune for Hwindi President this year, as his house was reportedly razed to the ground two months ago under unclear circumstances.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) took the car of popular musician Hwindi President because they suspect he did not follow the rules when importing the car. The musician says he bought the car legally and is asking for help from his fans. ZIMRA and the police are working together to check cars all over the country. Hwindi President's car was taken at a roadblock in Masvingo. He needs to pay $10 per day while the car is in ZIMRA's custody. This is not the first bad thing to happen to him this year, as his house was destroyed two months ago.

Hwindi President's Car Seized By ZIMRA

Zimdancehall artiste, Bessel Mugo Parewa, popularly known as “Hwindi Prezident”, was robbed of R6 000 at gunpoint in central Pretoria early Monday morning.
He had just finished performing and was relaxing close to Willas Lounge in Sunnyside where he had shared the stage with comedian-cum-musician Kapfupi.
<a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/hwindi-prezident-robbed-at-gunpoint-in-sa/">H-Metro</a> reported a source as saying the chanter refused to retire to bed and his manager, Lenny Junior, left him behind. Said the source:
<blockquote>
After the show, Hwindi didn’t want to go to sleep. He chose to chill with some guys smoking and having some drinks close to Willas Lounge.
A group of thugs pounced on them and demanded that they all empty their pockets.
</blockquote>
Hwindi’s manager Lenny claimed that the artistes were targeted because they promoted their own show and refused to use South Africa-based promoters. Said Lenny:
<blockquote>
This was a show that was arranged by Hwindi and Kapfupi and all the gate-takings were due to the two artists.
We have decided lately that we will arrange our own shows because some of these promoters take advantage by paying artists very little like R2 000 and they make a lot by exploiting artists.
Doing it on our own has not gone down well with a number of promoters here in SA who are now not gaining anything.
These guys then wanted to extort some money from us and wanted R2 000 for security.
We refused to budge because we had made our own security arrangements and a few minutes later some guys came to us, pointed a gun and grabbed car keys and other valuables.
Vaitotaura Shona vakabvunza kuti saka maramba nemari yedu here and they took our phones and cash.
Isn’t it ironic that after discussing nyaya yemari you get robbed. Unofungira ani to be honest?
</blockquote>
He said the money that was stolen was from a show they held last Saturday at Lechatters Tavern in Mamelodi.
Lenny suspects one Bornfree had a hand in the robbery. Lenny wrote to one promoter, Thapelo Chosen, in a WhatsApp message, saying:
<blockquote>
Isai mari mukoma wangu zvakaitwa naBonfree tinyarare nyaya idzi. Hwindi ndiye akatorerwa mari yaanga anayo not me. Kwakatorwa R6k not R3k.
</blockquote>
However, Thapelo denied planning the robbery saying it was strange that he was being accused of robbing artistes that he promotes. He said:
<blockquote>
I have worked with a lot of artists from Zimbabwe on a monthly basis. This is not the first time that I am engaging Hwindi and then to be accused of orchestrating a robbery is very unfortunate. I dismiss the accusation with the contempt it deserves.
There were security issues as Hwindi was left all alone with other guys. Vakaramba kubhadhara ma security. His manager had already left for the hotel and took Hwindi’s phones and cash.
I am then surprised that I or someone that I know will then plan to rob the same artists that we promote.
I actually helped the guys to go make a police report and that is where we also found their car keys. It is very unfortunate.
</blockquote>

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