Ellen Mlambo
BEITBRIDGE – Diana Simbisa Rwauya from Masvingo recently appeared before Beitbridge Magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba for allegedly smuggling a R300 000 ISUZU D Max.

The vehicle allegedly had a forged temporary import permit and customs receipt and it passed through an illegal crossing point.
Rwauya was granted $40 000 bail.

The State further alleges that the accused prejudiced ZIMRA of $11 414,79 duty. The vehicle was bought in South through an ABSA Bank loan by the accused’s husband, Henry Madembo who died recently. The husband however, died before fully paying the loan and the accused decided to bring the car to Zimbabwe.

A trekker system picked the car as it was being smuggled through the border and a report was made to the Police.

Prosecutor Ronald Mugwagwa said on December 12, 2021, Rwauya of Mucheke in Masvingo hatched a plan to import an ISUZU D Max red vehicle which was left in her custody by Madembo.

The accused drove the vehicle through an undesignated point of entry along Limpopo River.
A South Africa tracking company alerted detectives in Zimbabwe and the accused was arrested in Masvingo.

Police discovered in the accused’s possession her passport which was last stamped on December 28 2020, a forged temporary import permit and customs receipt number 318320 which were verified by ZIMRA Beitbridge.

Information gathered revealed that Madembo died on November 16 2021, but the affidavit wrote by him has a date stamp of December 2 2021.

The vehicle was seized by ZIMRA Beitbridge Border Post.