Ex-Zimbabwean minister convicted for smuggling fuel

A former Deputy Finance Minister of Zimbabwe has been convicted of smuggling 138 979 litres of fuel.

Terrence Mukupe, also a former legislator was convicted alongside three others. 

The group is in custody awaiting their sentencing. 

The country's National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) proved that the quartet smuggled a tanker filled with diesel into the country without paying duty in 2017.

The tanker was intercepted by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials at a border post leading to the arrest of the four.

They were facing fraud charges and an alternative charge of contravening section of the country's Customs and Excise Act (false declaration).

"Former Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development Terrence Mukupe together with 3 others have been convicted of importing 138 979 litres of fuel without paying duty. In doing so the accused prejudiced the State of revenue amounting to US$55 591.

“The accused are in custody pending their sentence on November 9 at the Harare High Court,” authorities there said in a statement. 

Prosecutors proved that Mukupe and his accomplices connived to import 138 919 liters of diesel into the country without paying duty at the border.

When the tanker reached Forbes Border Post in Mutare, the four lied that the diesel was en route to the Democratic Republic of Congo, thereby bypassing the need to pay duty.

While the tanker was in Zimbabwe, the four then replaced the diesel with water, before driving the tanker to Chirundu where they were stopped by ZIMRA officials who wanted to check the contents of the tanker.