The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
A Chipinge-based Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) employee defrauded his employer by converting proceeds from capital gains tax clearance certificates into his own use.
He has since been ordered to restitute the tax collector a sum of $478 900 while his accomplice, Innocent Shumba (28), denied the offence. Todd Chauya (33) was convicted on his own guilty plea when he appeared before Chipinge magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira on Monday.
Mr Gwezhira ordered Chauya to pay back the money by September 14 or risk being jailed for 10 months. Chauya was also ordered to pay $20 000 fine. If he defaults, he will spend 14 months in jail.
Prosecuting, Mr Gift Bikita said on August 19, 2019, Chauya and Shumba hatched a plan to steal a capital gains clearance certificate receipt book from their workplace at the Chipinge Government Complex.
“On August 19, 2019, the two accused persons were approached by Mr Isaac Vhokoto who wanted to pay tax for his property in Gaza high-density suburb. They issued Mr Vhokoto with a tax certificate valued at $3 000 and pocketed the money.
“Between September 17, 2019 and February 28, 2020, the two were approached by 14 other taxpayers. They continued to convert the money to their own use,” said Mr Bikita.
On March 3 this year, the police received a tip-off of the two’s shenanigans.
“The police approached the two and searches were conducted in Chauya’s vehicle. Capital gains tax certificates were recovered from the driver’s door panel.
“On March 4, the police went to Chipinge Town Council where 10 certificates issued to various people were recovered,” he said.
The total value of money stolen is $40 000, R32 400 and US$3 200, which was converted into local currency using the prevailing interbank rate.
Nothing was recovered.
