HARARE Senior Zanu (PF) officials including a minister have abused the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) special World Cup duty free scheme, prejudicing the government millions of United States dollars.A ministry of Finance official also confirmed that some of the people who benefited from the World Cup facility were senior Zimbabwe Tourism Authority officials, including a Zanu (PF) Minister who had imported several luxurious buses from South Africa.
These are the very same people who campaigned for the waiver of the duty because they wanted to personally benefit from the facility at the expense of the state, which has lost millions of dollars in potential revenue, he said.
The government a few months ago clandestinely waived duty on vehicles, equipment and goods imported by selected people for tourism use during the World Cup in the mistaken belief that the country would benefit from the soccer showcase by attracting more visitors.
A Senior ZIMRA official confirmed that several Zanu (PF) officials and their businesses had since taken advantage of the facility by importing duty free, top of the range and luxurious vehicles as well as other equipment for personal use.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is the one giving us names of people who should benefit from the free facility and virtually all of them are connected to Zanu (PF). What is surprising is that some of the vehicles, equipment and goods which are being imported for free will only arrive in the country well after the World Cup has ended, he said.
Despite the World Cup taking place in neighbouring South Africa, Zimbabwe is not economically benefiting from the soccer showcase because tourists are shunning the country because of its tarnished image following years of murder, torture and assault of ordinary people by Zanu PF militias and state security agents.
Post published in: News