THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has refused to comment on the closure of a popular liquor chain in Harare by its officers allegedly in the company of officers from the President’s Department triggering speculation that the move is politically motivated.
Madhadha Liquor, which has several outlets in the capital, is owned by Danmore Mambondiyani, who is also the deputy secretary for administration in the Zanu PF youth league.
Mambondiyani is the son-in-law of former Zimbabwe National Army commander Anselem Sanyatwe.
Sanyatwe was removed from the army ahead of planned March 31 protests, organised by war veteran Blessed Runesu Geza and other war veterans to pressure President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign.
He was reassigned as Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture minister, replacing Kirsty Coventry who assumed the International Olympic Committee presidency.
Geza levelled a number of accusations against Mnangagwa as he called on the President to step down.
The protests turned out to be a national shutdown.
NewsDay established that seven shops belonging to Madhadha were shut down by Zimra last week on allegations of breaching tax procedures.
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Zimra officers allegedly shut down the outlets without allowing the company time to regularise operations, which is done under normal circumstances.
This triggered speculation that the closures are politically motivated and were sponsored by his Zanu PF political rivals from Manicaland, who are also targeting Sanyatwe.
Sanyatwe is believed to be backing Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga in the Zanu PF succession wars.
Chiwenga is seen as the front runner the race to succeed Mnangagwa.
Fuel and mining magnate Kudakwashe Tagwirei’s name has also been mentioned in the succession race, a claim he has denied.
Asked why Zimra was accompanied by Central Intelligence Organisation officers and whether this did not suggest that the closure of Madhadha was politically motivated, the tax authority said it was mandated not to disclose information about its clients.
“The Zimra wishes to reaffirm that its operations are governed by statutory provisions which include a strict obligation to uphold taxpayer confidentiality,” Gladman Njani, the Zimra spokesperson, said.
“In accordance with these provisions, Zimra does not disclose or engage in discussions regarding the tax affairs of any individual or corporate entity with third parties.”
Mambondiyani was not picking calls when attempts were made to get a comment from him, but Zanu PF sources from Manicaland maintained that the closure of Madhadha Liquor was politically motivated.
This is not the first time Mambondiyani has been targeted.
His fuel company, Liquid Cargo, almost closed shop following claims by suspicious people that their cars had been damaged by contaminated fuel bought from his service stations.
Zanu PF sources from Manicaland fingered David Munowenyu for allegedly sponsoring the onslaught against Mambondiyani and other political opponents.
Reports last year said Munowenyu, who is chief executive officer of Discovery Ambulance Services, a company said to belong to of Uebert Angel, was spearheading a presidential medical outreach programme.
Munowenyu, working with intelligence officers, is accused of funding operations targeting Sanyatwe’s relatives from Manicaland.
He is also accused of financing rivalry among bigwigs in Manicaland that include Defence minister and party national chair Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Women’s Affairs minister Monica Mutsvangwa, a development Zanu PF insiders say has left the party paralysed in the province.
Munowenyu said the accusations were baseless when contacted for comment.
“It’s just name-dropping. I think it’s just naivety to involve me,” he said.
“If Zimra is doing its job and closing people’s outlets for whatever reason, what has that got to do with me.
“How do I get involved? How do I get involved in the factionalism of such a big party? I am such a small fish. I didn’t know that I had such influence to be dragged into such claims.”
Munowenyu’s team is also alleged to be targeting a clothing business owned by another Sanyatwe relative, wife of George Chimhini, who is the Sports minister’s nephew, as factionalism in Manicaland continues to escalate.
