Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI- A fortnight ago , all hell broke loose for Oil business person, Trinity Mutsetse who runs Inotrade Service Stations in the Lowveld town, Jerera and Mashava after he was busted by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) for allegedly smuggling two fuel tankers from South Africa.
The vehicles in question were found parked at his truck stop in Chiredzi’s Light industry.
Mutsetse, who rose in the business circles through running the inherited Tsimeguru Service Station near Chiredzi’s Old rank has been building his empire from smuggled oil while expanding his businesses to as far as Mashava, where he bought a fuelling station reportedly belonging to Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Ezra Chadzamira.
Recently, Mutsetse commissioned one of his state of Art fuelling stations in the Central Business District of Chiredzi, where the smuggled 25 000 liter tankers were set to deliver the fuel soon after leaving their truck stop.
Contacted for comment, Mutsetse professed ignorance and referred all questions to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) who are currently in possession of his two tanker trucks, Registration Numbers ABJ 9372 and a Foreign plate HLV5823.
“If it is about that issue please deal with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority. What they will tell you will be what happened, I have nothing to comment,” he said.
Mutsetse is allegedly brushing the blame to the drivers whom he is alleging might have forgotten to declare the fuel at the border as they overhead ZIMRA officers directing them to leave.
ZIMRA’s Head for Corporate Communications Tapiwa Chimanda confirmed the issue but refused to give further details giving the secrecy provisions in the Statutes (Section 34A of the Revenue Authority Act and Section 210 of the Customs and Excise Act) which prohibits him to divulge client specific information.
“The enquiry is noted. However given the secrecy provisions in the statutes (Section 34A of the Revenue Authority and Section 210 of the Customs and Excise Act), the Authority is not at liberty to divulge client specific information to the public. Suffice to say the matter is still subjudice until ZIMRA concludes its enquiries and if the matter is prosecuted after which the information will automatically enter the public domain through the courts.
“Even then, the Authority’s response will remain governed by the statues,” said Chimanda.
Mutsetse had been smuggling fuel from South Africa allegedly with the aid of ZIMRA Officers at the Beitbridge border post before he was nabbed by Chiredzi ZIMRA officers at his truck stop soon after the arrival of the fuel tankers.
Mutsetse was also once involved in the land scam after reportedly facilitating the sale of land in Chiredzi at his homestead after he had also acquired his US$10 000 plot which is yet to be cleared.
