A Harare-based freight clearing company director appeared in court charged with fraud after he allegedly defrauding the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) over ZiG$400 000 through a fictitious payment scheme.
Lawrence Zifungo (43) was arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on allegations of orchestrating the scheme while using company and ZIMRA accounts to clear goods without making the required payments.
It is the State’s case that in 2023, Rosecraft Freight Private Limited engaged Zifungo to assist in clearing goods for clients using the company’s credentials.
Zifungo was granted access to Rosecraft Freight’s pre-payment account to process clearance entries.
However, between January and August 2025, he allegedly devised a plan to defraud Rosecraft Freight.
Acting in cahoots with unidentified ZIMRA employees, Zifungo is said to have misrepresented to the tax authority that Rosecraft Freight had deposited ZiG$448 620 into ZIMRA’s BancABC account.
According to the documents, ZIMRA employees allegedly created a fictitious payment entry indicating that the funds had been deposited, enabling the clearance of goods without actual payment.
Zifungo was released on US$300 bail pending trial.
