A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) manager based in Beitbridge, Lonto Ndlovu, appeared in court on Wednesday facing charges of defeating the course of justice in a case involving US$27,000.
Ndlovu was remanded in custody until April 17 for trial. The complainant in the case is Johannes Tagasira, the director of Silverline Chemicals Private Limited.
According to the State’s outline, in April 2024, Silverline Chemicals imported 38,000 litres of methanol, valued at around US$27,000, through the Beitbridge Border Post.
The cargo underwent clearance procedures, which included Condep checks, physical inspections, and sample collection. ZIMRA was satisfied with the inspections and documentation, and the cargo was cleared for transport.
However, while en route to Harare, the truck was stopped at Bubi on suspicion that it was carrying diesel rather than methanol. The truck was then escorted back to Beitbridge for re-inspection.
On April 8, 2024, it is alleged that samples were taken and sent to NOIC for testing. ZIMRA subsequently issued notices of seizure for the cargo, truck, and trailer, claiming that the cargo was diesel, not methanol.
The complainant disputed this, insisting that the cargo contained methanol, not diesel. To confirm this, he paid US$1,200 for an independent test at the Standard Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ).
On April 12, ZIMRA took another sample to ZERA for re-testing, and the results showed the sample met standards for paraffin.
On April 15, the complainant, through an official email, challenged the test results. He later learned that ZIMRA officials were planning to sell and dispose of the cargo without his knowledge.
As a result, the complainant filed an urgent chamber application with the High Court on April 22, 2024.
On April 24, a ZIMRA legal officer, Tinashe Marange, officially emailed Lonto informing her about the judicial proceedings at the Masvingo High Court concerning the cargo.
Lonto was served with court papers in which she was cited as the accused. She filed an opposing affidavit in response.
On April 25, the complainant’s lawyer, Kudzai Tandi, emailed Lonto, reminding her not to dispose of the cargo, as it was the sole exhibit in the pending judicial proceedings.
Chrispen Chidzenga, a ZIMRA legal department official, also instructed the accused not to dispose of the cargo until the judicial proceedings at the Masvingo High Court had concluded.
That same day, the case was heard by Justice Zisengwe, who ordered ZIMRA not to dispose of the cargo.
However, despite the High Court’s order, Lonto proceeded to sell and accept payment for the cargo later that day, during the hearing of the urgent chamber application.
By April 28, 2024, she went further to disregard the High Court order by disposing of the cargo from the ZIMRA warehouse, leading to the destruction of the sole exhibit in the pending judicial proceedings.
As a result, a third, independent test could not be conducted because the evidence was destroyed.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zimra-regional-manager-in-court/">The Herald</a>

Pindula News

A ZIMRA manager named Lonto Ndlovu is accused of destroying evidence in a case involving US$27,000. The evidence was a cargo of methanol imported by Silverline Chemicals. Even though the High Court ordered ZIMRA not to dispose of the cargo, Lonto did it anyway. This prevented a third test from being done. Ndlovu faces charges of defeating the course of justice and was remanded in custody until trial on April 17. The complainant, Johannes Tagasira, says the cargo contained methanol, not diesel. The case is ongoing.

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