Revenue officer fired over ZWL$157,836 undercharge loses Supreme Court appeal
The Zimbabwe Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of a ZIMRA revenue officer who undercharged warehouse rent by over ZWL$157,000. The court rejected the officer's appeal, which argued that disciplinary tribunals failed to properly consider mitigation factors.
Why it matters
This case reinforces strict accountability standards for public revenue officials and clarifies the legal requirements for disciplinary procedures in Zimbabwe's labor sector.
A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) revenue officer who was dismissed after undercharging warehouse rent by ZWL$157,836.96 has lost his appeal at the Supreme Court, which upheld his dismissal and ordered him to pay costs.
Innocent Sithole was charged with misconduct under Group D25 of ZIMRA’s Employment Code of Conduct after he allegedly failed to properly assess charges on goods weighing 61.12 tonnes.
The Supreme Court heard that on November 24, 2020, Sithole generated assessment number YI28376 on receipt number R313955 for the collection of warehouse rent for 44 days, charging ZWL$5,280.
However, the court found that he had undercharged by ZWL$157,836.96 and had also failed to charge duty, penalties and interest on the goods.
Sithole appeared before ZIMRA’s Disciplinary and Grievance Committee, which found him guilty and dismissed him from employment.
His appeal to ZIMRA’s Appeals Committee was unsuccessful, prompting him to approach the Labour Court.
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