Mathew Masinge
FORMER Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Terrence Mukupe, will spend three years in prison for unlawfully importing diesel without paying duty.
Three drivers — Sam Kapisoriso, Joseph Taderera and Leornard Mudzuto — will also serve a similar term.
The four were last week convicted for unlawfully importing about 138 000 litres of diesel without paying duty.
The four were also fined US$12 780 each, failing which will result in two additional years’ imprisonment.
High Court judge, Justice Benjamin Chikowero sentenced them to three-and-a-half years, but suspended six months for five years on condition of good behaviour.
The State proved that the three drivers drove tankers with diesel into Zimbabwe through the Forbes Border Post in Mutare heading for the Democratic Republic of Congo in February 2017.
They emptied the diesel and replaced it with water in connivance with Mukupe.
The fraud was discovered when the tankers went through a physical examination at Chirundu Border Post.