A 51-year-old teacher from Shurugwi has been taken to court for allegedly defrauding the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) by smuggling a vehicle into the country. The teacher, Bekithemba Ganyani, who works at Parkinson Secondary School, appeared before a magistrate in Harare and was remanded in custody until Friday, according to <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-shurugwi-teacher-in-hot-soup-over-fake-car-rebate">The Sunday Mail</a>. Ganyani’s accomplice, Peter Muruki, who was a clearing agent at Beitbridge Border Post, has since passed away.
According to the court, in February 2023, Ganyani purchased a 2013 Toyota Aqua vehicle in South Africa intending to import it using the civil servants rebate scheme. However, instead of following the proper procedure of applying for the rebate through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, Ganyani conspired with the late Muruki to obtain a fake rebate letter for importing the vehicle.
Ganyani provided the late Muruki with copies of his driver’s license and pay slip, and paid him $300 to process the fake rebate letter. The deceased then presented the forged documents to ZIMRA officials at Beitbridge Border Post.
The accused was arrested on January 16, 2024, when he was found in possession of fake rebate copies during an investigation at the ZIMRA office. As a result of this fraudulent act, ZIMRA suffered a loss of ZW$3 million in unpaid import duty.
The case highlights the illegal activities that some individuals engage in to evade taxes and import goods unlawfully. Some cases involve ZIMRA officials. Such actions have serious consequences for the national economy and revenue collection. 
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Teacher In Court For Alleged Vehicle Smuggling, Defrauding Zimbabwe Revenue Authority

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Revenue_Authority">Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA)</a> has said the authority surpassed revenue targets despite a number of challenges the whole nation faced in 2021. The taxman announced this in its revenue performance report for the fourth quarter of 2021. Pindula News presents ZIMRA’s report:
<blockquote>
1. Introduction
The general economic environment weakened marginally in the fourth quarter of 2021 with year-on-year inflation increasing by 9.19% percentage points from 51.55% as at end of September 2021 to 60.74% by end of December 2021. Economic growth is projected at 7.8% driven by electricity generation, agriculture, mining and infrastructure developments. On the other hand, local currency further weakened against the US dollar during the quarter from 87.6653 at the end of September 2021 to 108.70 at the end of December 2021. 
The year 2021 ended on a positive note in terms of revenue collections as ZIMRA surpassed revenue targets despite a number of challenges that confronted the Revenue Authority and the nation as a whole.
The biggest adversity was the continued COVID-19 pandemic that affected business operations and led to death of fellow citizens and some of the Authority’s staff.
ZIMRA continued to support the Government‘s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS-1) through implementation of various revenue collection and trade facilitation strategies.
2. Domestic Revenue Mobilization (DRM)
This report gives a summary of the 2021 annual net revenue collection performance and also provides a review of ZIMRA’s strategic performance for the quarter ended 31 December 2021. 
2.1 Revenue Performance for Q4 2021
Gross collections for the fourth quarter amounted to ZWL$161.08 billion, against a target of ZWL$108.17 billion (48.91% above target). The Authority paid out refunds of ZWL$3.90 billion during the quarter under review. Table 1 below shows that net collections for the quarter were 
ZWL$157.19 billion (45.31% above target).
</blockquote>
Download: <a href="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Revenue-performance-report-for-the-fourth-quarter-of-2021-1.pdf">Revenue performance report for the fourth quarter of 2021</a>

Revenue Performance Report Q4 2021: ZIMRA Surpass Revenue Targets Despite Challenges

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has come under fire after suspending the appointment of Board member Dr Morris B Mpofu to the post of Acting Commissioner-General. 
Mpofu was previously accused of corruption at the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Mining Corporation (ZCDMC) where he was the chief executive officer.
ZIMRA announced the suspension of the appointment in a Board circular No. 2 of 2022 dated 7 January 2022 that was addressed to all staff. Read the circular:
<blockquote>
<h2>RE: NOTICE OF CHANGES TO THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ACTING COMMISSIONER-GENERAL AND THE CONTINUATION OF MR. R. MASAIRE AS ACTING COMMISSIONER-GENERAL.</h2>
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Board wishes to inform members of staff that the assumption of duty of Dr Moris B. Mpofu as Acting Commissioner General of the Authority has been suspended.
Accordingly, Mr Rameck Masaire will continue to serve as Acting Commissioner General of the Authority.
</blockquote>
ZIMRA had announced Mpofu’s appointment on the 4th of January 2022. Reads the statement that announced the appointment:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) Board announces the early retirement of Mr. Rameck Masaire who was the Acting Commissioner-General (ACG) of ZIMRA. The retirement is with effect from 1 February 2022.
Mr. Masaire re-joined ZIMRA as Commissioner Domestic Taxes on 1 September 2018, coming from Ernst &amp; Young. He served in that role until 1 February 2021 when he was appointed ACG of ZIMRA, the role he has been executing until his retirement notice on 30 December 2021. 
With his vast tax knowledge and experience, he has provided valuable leadership to the organisation and the team that he has been working with over the years. A number of notable achievements have been recorded during his time in ZIMRA, which will remain an invaluable legacy for the organisation and the nation. The Board takes this opportunity to thank Mr. Masaire for his contribution to the organisation and wish him well in his future endeavours.
In the same breath, on behalf of the Board, I announce the appointment of Board Member, Dr. Moris B. Mpofu as Acting Commissioner-General with effect from 1 January 2022 until 30 April 2022 with the hope that within that period the recruitment process for the substantive Commissioner-General would have been finalised. Dr. Mpofu’s appointment is in terms of section 17 (4) (b) of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act [Chapter 10:31].
The ZIMRA Board wishes Dr. Mpofu the best in managing this transition.
</blockquote>
Commenting on the development, exiled former Cabinet minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo described Moyo’s appointment as “controversial”. He said:
<blockquote>
ZIMRA has suspended its controversial appointment of Dr Moris B Mpofu as the Authority’s Acting Commissioner General!
</blockquote>
Law expert, Alex Magaisa said is folly to suspend Mpofu’s appointment and keep him as a board member. Said the UK-based law lecturer:
<blockquote>
The absurdity is that while they say Dr Morris B. Mpofu is not good enough to be the Acting Commissioner-General, he has been and is still good enough to be a board member of the tax collector!
</blockquote>
<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/01/06/zimra-invites-candidates-to-fill-vacant-posts/">The ZIMRA Board this week invited</a> qualified and experienced Zimbabwean citizens to fill the position of Commissioner-General.
<h2>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

ZIMRA On Spotlight As It Suspends A Recent Appointment Of Dr Mpofu As Acting Commissioner-General

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has warned traders who are falsifying their financial records to evade tax, that they risk vigorous audits, penalties and prosecution.
In a statement on Thursday, the taxman urged all traders to make voluntary disclosures of all under-declarations or non-payment of tax by December 31. Read the statement:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has noted with concern that there are traders who are falsifying their financial records.
ZIMRA is, therefore, urging all traders to come forth and make voluntary disclosures of all under-declared or non-payment of tax by 31 December 2021 to avoid vigorous audits, prosecution and penalties that will be instituted soon after the deadline.
</blockquote>
The tax collector said it had conducted audits, which revealed that some businesses are selling goods and services in foreign currency, but are converting these transactions to the local currency for tax purposes.
More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-tax-defaulters-face-heavy-penalties">The Sunday Mail</a>

ZIMRA: Tax Defaulters Face Penalties, Prosecution

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has issued a statement outlining its measures to stop the spread and transmission of the novel coronavirus.
The statement came after the tax collector’s workers at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport through their representative, <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2020/03/25/zimra-workers-at-r-g-mugabe-airport-withdraw-services-over-possible-exposure-to-coronavirus/">ZIMRATU, announced that they were withdrawing their services over possible exposure to coronavirus.</a>
We present the authority’s statement in full below.
<blockquote>The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) is aware that due to the nature of the daily work and the positioning of our offices, stations and ports of entry, our staff are at high risk in terms of exposure to COVID-19, Coronavirus. It is ZIMRA’s top priority to safeguard our employees and our clients during this difficult time while we secure the necessary revenue for Government.
In line with the State of the Nation address by His Excellence, E.D Mnangagwa, on the Corona Virus and measures the government has taken, ZIMRA encourages clients to reduce physical visits to our offices.
In the interest of safeguarding employees, directed by the guidelines from the World Health Organisation, the Ministry of Health and Childcare, approaches and protocols implemented in other countries, ZIMRA has implemented measures to mitigate the likely impact and risks of this viral 
threat to operations and human life.
Current measures include but are not limited to: 
· All ZIMRA stations and offices maintaining critical skeleton staff 
· Staff have been provided with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and sanitizers 
· Staff work from home where practical 
· Staff interact with clients/agents via electronic means 
· In the case of suspected cases and or exposure amongst staff, the staff members in question are immediately quarantined and the Health Officials are alerted 
· As a mitigating measure against the spread of COVID-19 virus, clients are encouraged to access, utilise the available ZIMRA e-service facilities on www.efiling.zimra.co.zw or www.zimra.co.zw and reduce the risks associated with travelling or handling physical documents 
· Stamping officers wear appropriate protective clothing during the processing of documents 
ZIMRA encourages everyone to put their health and safety first at all times while remembering that responsible behavior at an individual level will help safeguard our loved ones, the community and the wider Zimbabwean society. 
· No TIP applications are being accepted over the counter. 
· No manual TIP’s are being issued. 
· All face-to-face meetings with clients are suspended, and the use of electronic means of communication is encouraged. 
· For ZIMRA bank details, please visit the ZIMRA website www.zimra.co.zw.
Clients can access the following services online: 
· Use of the eTIP platform is mandatory. 
· Online Submission of Tax Returns (currently Income Tax, PAYE, Value Added Tax, and Capital Gains Tax). 
· Processing of the eTIP’s to be done through the system and client to receive notification through SMS or email informing him/her of the processed TIP and reference number. 
· All verifications of processed eTIP’s are verified online. 
· Viewing of Taxpayers’ Accounts Status and Balances. 
· Online updating of information (submission of REV2 Form). 
· Online application for Tax Clearances (ITF263). 
· Online verification and validation of existing Tax Clearances (ITF263). 
· Online registration in order to obtain a ZIMRA Business Partner Number (BP).</blockquote>

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