Harare, Zimbabwe – A Harare-based freight clearing company director has appeared before the courts facing serious charges of fraud, stemming from allegations that he defrauded the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) of over ZiG$400,000 through a sophisticated fictitious payment scheme.
Lawrence Zifungo, aged 43, was formally arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court. He stands accused of orchestrating a fraudulent operation that allegedly exploited both company and ZIMRA accounts to facilitate the clearance of goods without the requisite payments being made to the tax authority.
The State’s case posits that in 2023, Rosecraft Freight Private Limited engaged Zifungo to assist in the customs clearance of goods for its clients, utilizing the company’s established credentials. As part of his duties, Zifungo was granted access to Rosecraft Freight’s pre-payment account, which is designated for processing clearance entries.
However, between January and August 2025, Zifungo allegedly devised a calculated plan to defraud Rosecraft Freight. It is further alleged that, acting in collusion with unidentified ZIMRA employees, Zifungo misrepresented to the tax authority that Rosecraft Freight had deposited a substantial sum of ZiG$448,620 into ZIMRA’s BancABC account.
According to court documents, the alleged scheme involved ZIMRA employees creating a fictitious payment entry. This fraudulent entry purportedly indicated that the funds had been successfully deposited, thereby enabling the unauthorized clearance of goods without any actual financial transaction taking place. This action effectively bypassed the standard revenue collection procedures, leading to a significant loss for the national fiscus.
Zifungo has since been released on US$300 bail, pending the commencement of his trial. The investigation into the full extent of the alleged fraud and the involvement of other parties, particularly the unidentified ZIMRA employees, is understood to be ongoing.
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