Beitbridge, Zimbabwe – March 28, 2025
A senior Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) manager, Lonto Ndlovu, appeared in court yesterday facing charges of defeating the course of justice after allegedly authorising the illegal disposal of cargo at the centre of a US$27,000 commercial dispute—despite clear court instructions to preserve it.
Ndlovu, stationed at Beitbridge Border Post, was remanded in custody until April 17. The complainant, Mr. Johannes Tagasira—director of Silverline Chemicals Pvt Ltd—accuses ZIMRA officials of acting in bad faith and deliberately destroying key evidence in a case that was actively before the courts.
The dispute began in April 2024 when Silverline Chemicals imported 38,000 litres of methanol via Beitbridge. After passing routine ZIMRA inspections and being cleared for transit, the truck was stopped at Bubi on suspicion that it was carrying diesel. The cargo was seized, and conflicting test results followed—one alleging diesel, another suggesting paraffin. Tagasira strongly contested these findings and sought an independent test through the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ), paying US$1,200 out of pocket.
Despite this, and while urgent court proceedings were underway at the Masvingo High Court, ZIMRA—through Ndlovu—proceeded to sell the cargo. This was done on April 25, 2024, the very day the High Court explicitly ordered ZIMRA not to dispose of the goods. Just three days later, Ndlovu reportedly facilitated the final disposal of the cargo, effectively destroying the only evidence that could have vindicated the complainant.
Court records show that multiple ZIMRA officials, including legal officers, had formally warned Ndlovu not to proceed with the sale. Yet she allegedly ignored both internal directives and a binding court order—raising serious concerns about abuse of power and institutional accountability.
As a result of her actions, the complainant has been denied the chance to independently prove his case. The destruction of the cargo has made further testing impossible, turning a commercial dispute into a criminal matter with profound implications for justice.
Legal observers say the incident points to a disturbing pattern where state institutions act with impunity, even when judicial processes are underway.
The trial continues on April 17.