Whitecard Tobacco Company Director Busted for Brib...

Whitecard Tobacco Company Director Busted for Bribery

Munyaradzi Mashiri | Court Correspondent

A 51-year-old businessman and director of Whitecard Tobacco Company has been arrested and charged with bribery after allegedly attempting to offer US$2,000 to officials from the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board to secure the release of seized tobacco intended for export to South Africa.

Richard Mandudzo appeared before Harare Magistrate Mr Tapiwa Kuhudzai facing bribery charges and was granted US$300 bail.

According to the State, an investigation led by TIMB Inspectorate Manager Isiah Hokonya into illegal tobacco dealings involving Mandudzo and his alleged accomplices uncovered the offence.

The case came to light on July 23, 2025, during a routine surveillance operation by TIMB inspectors and officers from the Zimbabwe Republic Police in the Waterfalls area of Harare.

The team apprehended Ringisai Manhando at 176 First Avenue, Waterfalls, for illegal tobacco dealing. He was found with a truck loaded with compressed boxes of lamina (hand-stripped tobacco), which he allegedly intended to smuggle to South Africa.

Investigations revealed that Mandudzo was working with Manhando, using Whitecard Tobacco Company’s export permits—authorized only for tobacco stems—to falsely declare and attempt to smuggle lamina as stems.

Further inquiries revealed that Mandudzo was processing tobacco stems of unexplained origin, in violation of TIMB licensing regulations. Under TIMB policy, scrap licenses for handling tobacco waste can only be issued after the closure of auction floors to prevent side marketing. However, Mandudzo was found in possession of tobacco stems without the necessary license.

The matter escalated on July 25, when Mandudzo’s alleged South African trading partner, identified only as Fayaz and linked to NITTO Investments, called Hokonya pleading for the release of the impounded tobacco. Fayaz admitted that Mandudzo had given him the official’s contact details.

Later that day, Mandudzo himself called Hokonya and offered a US$3,000 bribe to facilitate the release. After being turned down, he reduced the offer to US$2,000 and continued pressuring the official to accept the money.

Hokonya reported the bribery attempt to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), which then set up a trap.

On July 28, 2025, Mandudzo contacted Hokonya again to finalise the bribe arrangement. ZACC investigators set up surveillance equipment at TIMB headquarters in Southerton to record the exchange.

At around 2:30 PM, Mandudzo arrived at Hokonya’s office with a black plastic bag containing US$2,000 in cash. He handed over the money, which Hokonya counted before passing it to ZACC Principal Investigations Officer Chapwanya. The entire transaction was recorded on video.

After confirming the amount, Chapwanya identified himself and arrested Mandudzo on the spot. The money was seized as evidence.