The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has arrested four Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) officials for allegedly demanding a US$6,000 bribe from a transport operator.
The four individual officials are Jonathan Maguta, Obert Mitwira, Simon Homera, and Laul Gwatirinda, who arrested after accepting over US$1,000 bribe while while on duty. After the arr3st of Zimra officials, ZACC officers searched the vehicle and found an additional US$3,951, suspected to be part of the extorted funds.
According to ZACC, the officials were involved in an ongoing operation to curb smuggling when they impounded a bus from Best Express Logistics.
After the company paid the required excess duty of ZWG55,000, the officials allegedly demanded the bribe to facilitate the release of the bus.
Beatrice Maramwidze, a director at Best Express Logistics, reported the incident to ZACC, leading to the investigation and arrest of the officials.
They are being held at Avondale Police Station and are expected to appear in court on Saturday facing extortion charges or alternatively, criminal abuse of duty as public officers.
