Businessman Jailed for 15 Years Over $2.8 Million Fuel Fraud

Rutendo Mazhindu- Zim Now Reporter

A businessman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of fraudulently importing millions of liters of duty-free diesel using forged documents, defrauding the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority of US$2.8 million.

Hugh Tinashe Sibanda and his company, Centenary Tobacco Company (Pvt) Ltd, were convicted by the High Court of Zimbabwe after using fake authorization letters to evade duty payments.

The scheme, which ran from October 2022 to February 2023, was exposed when ZIMRA discovered the falsified documents in January 2023 and demanded payments from the Central Mechanical Equipment Department.

Sibanda misrepresented to CMED that his company had government approval to import duty-free fuel for agricultural purposes. The fraudulent operation allowed him to bring in 4.47 million liters of diesel without paying duties.

Following a trial at the High Court, Sibanda was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with five years suspended for good behavior, effectively leaving him with a 15-year jail term.

Meanwhile, the court ordered Centenary Tobacco Company (Pvt) Ltd to pay ZIMRA US$2.1 million. The Sheriff of the High Court has been directed to seize the company's assets to recover the funds.