A Zimbabwean former deputy minister of Finance and Economic Development, Terence Mukupe, has been convicted of smuggling almost 140 000 litres of diesel fuel.
Mukupe was convicted together with three accomplices – Same Kapisoriso, Ngonidzashe Mutsvene and Joseph Taderera.
All four remain in custody as they await sentencing.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) proved that the quartet smuggled a tanker filled with diesel into the country without paying duty in 2017.
The vehicle was intercepted by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials at Chirundu border post leading to the arrest of the four.
"Mukupe, together with three others have been convicted of importing 138 979 litres of fuel without paying duty,” the NPA said.
“In doing so, the accused prejudiced the state of revenue amounting to $55 591.
"The accused are in custody pending their sentencing at the Harare High Court.”
Mukupe and his accomplices connived to import 138 919 litres of diesel into the country without paying duty at the Forbes Border Post in Mutare.
They said the diesel was on its way to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), thereby making it duty-free.
While the tanker was in Zimbabwe, the four replaced the diesel with water, before driving the tanker to Chirundu where they were stopped by Zimra officials who checked the tanker's contents and discovered the switch.
