Zimpapers Logo

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
POLICE have arrested a car dealer who was in the habit of buying cars in Botswana before smuggling them through Beitbridge Border Post under the Temporary Import Permit (TIP) facility.

Joseph Chibongore, who is based in Chitungwiza, was arrested on Tuesday for smuggling five vehicles between March and October this year as he attempted to commit the same crime again.

Under the Temporary Import Permit facility, foreigners or Zimbabweans based in other countries are allowed to bring their vehicles into the country duty free for 30 days only. If they wish to extend their stay in the country, they are required to renew the TIP.

Chibongore appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Innocent Bepura yesterday charged with contravening a section of the Customs and Excise Act.

He admitted to the charge and was remanded in custody to November 3.

Prosecutor Jabulani Mberesi said on March 14 this year, Chibongore, who is a temporary resident in South Africa, arrived in the country through Beitbridge Border Post driving a Botswana registered Toyota Corolla registration numbers ACA 006 MP.

He was issued with a temporary import permit by Zimra valid up to April 14.

However, when the permit expired, he did not take the vehicle back or renew the permit with Zimra, but went back to his base in South Africa.

The court further heard that Chibongore smuggled a Toyota Runx on May 26 and employed the same modus operandi in bringing three more vehicles.

The offence came to light after an alert Zimra official who was processing documents for another vehicle Chibongore wanted to import realised that he had outstanding acquittals for five other vehicles. The official alerted the police as he was processing the TIP resulting in the man’s arrest.