Ex-Minister convicted, awaits sentence
MOSES MATENGA
Former Finance and Economic Development Deputy Minister Terrence Mukupe has been convicted for fuel smuggling and awaits sentence today.
Mukupe, a former Member of Parliament for Harare East was convicted together with three others for illegally importing 138 979 litres of diesel without paying duty in 2017.
“The state proved that on 27 January 2017 at Forbes Border post in Mutare, Mukupe, Sam Kapisoriso, Joseph Taderera and Leonard Mudzuto connived to unlawfully import diesel without paying duty,” the National Prosecuting Authority said yesterday.
“The accused persons misrepresented that the diesel was going to be offloaded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Pursuant to their plan, they replaced the diesel with water in Zimbabwe. The matter came to light on January 30, 2017 when officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) intercepted them at Chirundu One Stop Border Post to verify the nature of goods they were carrying. In so doing, the accused persons prejudiced the state of revenue amounting to US$55 591-60.”
The crime took place when Mukupe was still a Member of Parliament and at the time, he tried in vain to use his political muscle insisting the interception of his trucks were the works of his political adversaries.
Mukupe’s conviction follows another of a top official, Zimbabwe Miners Federation president Henrietta Rushwaya, for attempting to smuggle gold in November, 2020.
Rushwaya appeared before the Anti-Corruption Court at the High Court facing charges of gold smuggling after she was caught with six kilograms of the precious mineral valued at US$333k.
She has been in custody since last Wednesday awaiting sentencing tomorrow.
