The trial of radio personality Tichafa Augustine Matambanadzo, popularly known as Tich Mataz, who is accused of trying to smuggle clothes and shoes from China into Zimbabwe, was yesterday postponed to March 13 after Harare magistrate Mr Lazini Ncube said he was overwhelmed with work. Mataz who is the director of ZiFM radio station, is
The court heard that on January 7 this year, Matambanadzo arrived at Harare International Airport aboard Kenya Airways from China. After picking up his boxes from the carousel, he allegedly went through the green route used by those with nothing to declare. It is alleged that he was stopped by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) official Mr Patrick Mukanganwi, who asked him to go through the red route for inspection of his goods.
The court heard that Matambanadzo was handed over to Patrick Mhanda who was in cubicle No. 3 of the red route. He was asked to complete a declaration form and when Mr Mhanda went through his luggage he noticed that he had several suits, shirts, track bottoms and shoes. Mr Mhanda caluculated the excise duty for the clothes which came to $538,75. It is alleged that when Mhanda went into the next cubicle to capture the information into the computer system, Matambanadzo took the opportunity to escape.
More: Herald
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