Zimbabwean highflier deported

Sharon Mathala | Friday November 18, 2016 18:00

 

Information reaching Mmegi from investigators is that a senior official tried to defend, block, threaten and interfere with Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) investigations.

Following the intense investigation, BURS confiscated among other properties, Jimere’s four Phakalane homes, one home in Gaborone Block 7, two units at the I-Towers at the Central Business District (CBD), another industrial plot in Phakalane, four Toyota hilux vehicles, one Toyota Dyna, three Mercedes, two KIAs, a BMW, a Landrover as well as a Hyundai vehicle.

The raid on Jimere’s property started last Thursday and by yesterday a truck loading some of his properties was seen at his home at the Phakalane golf estate loading more.

Reached for comment the BURS senior officials were said to be out of town, and the organisation’s Public Relations Unit (PRO) said that they do not discuss taxman insights with the media.

 

Jimere’s connections

In a year-long investigation conducted by the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) and the BURS, it was discovered that Jimere has long-standing political ties and has been financing a leading politician’s campaigns and businesses.

This made it difficult for BURS investigators to dig into the affairs of the man who allegedly has ties even with top government officials. Sources say some of the damming information found out by the BURS, which was reported to the Police serious crime squad was ignored.

“From the investigations it was discovered that Jimere was using four passports, this was reported to the serious crime squad, but they failed to investigate him,” said a source.

Source close to the investigations told Mmegi this week how Jimere used his “money power” to lure politicians, and corrupt some senior government officials.

“Our informants told us about his visit to one of the party leaders. We investigated his relationship with the man (name known to this publication) and we came to know how he sometimes finances the leaders’ businesses and campaigns,” the spy alleged. Jimere was allegedly financing a faction within a political party to traverse the country to build a team for political power.

It is alleged that the powerful politician and his advisors tried to rescue the Zimbabwean businessman. “Soon after his influential friend paid a visit to our offices pleading us to pardon his friend,” a source close to the investigation told Mmegi.

Mmegi investigations also tie other senior government officials to an attempt to interference with BURS investigations on Jimere. Also in the picture is another prominent lawyer who allegedly wrote some letters to BURS in vain begging for Jimere’s freedom. The tax collecting entity however, was taking none of it. Seeing that his trusted men had failed him, Jimere allegedly tried to get President Ian Khama’s ear.

“He then wrote a letter to the Office of the President to seek for mercy, but his application failed, and he was subsequently deported, and considered an illegal immigrant,” said the source close to the matter.

Khama, it is understood, has warned Jimere’s allies that he would not tarnish his name by interfering even on reckless and obvious cases.

 

Jimere owed millions to BURS

Investigations on Jimere and subsequent deportation arose after he allegedly gave false declarations to the BURS. It was previously reported that on about April 22 2014, Jimere was selected for an audit of his accounts. It later became apparent that he owed BURS around P 24 526 938 in lieu of income tax of P 15 million, VAT of P 8 million, PAYE at P650,000 as well as withholding tax of P 1.5 million.

The company, which is under the BURS watch, spent approximately P450,000 on salaries for the month of May 2016. The company was the embroiled in a bitter legal battle with the taxman over unpaid taxes worth over P25 million.

Around June this year, Jimere filed an urgent application with the Lobatse High Court seeking an order against BURS to among others, allow him access to his bank account, set aside the 200% imposed on his company, as well as to release three of his vehicles impounded last year.

The company’s accounts were frozen on June 1, 2016 after months of friction and correspondence between the company and BURS dating back to 2015. Then Jimere believed that the VAT audits by BURS, which covered the period 2010 to 2013, resulted in an additional P2,531,751.22  as the capital amount and 286% was levied upon his company, resulting in P9,766,545.80 inclusive of levies and interest due to BURS. He said he was not given enough time to respond to the assessment and notice.

Of late things seemed to go pear shape for the Zimbabwean. Earlier this year, the businessman was involved in a freak accident, which claimed the life of one of the country’s famous cyclist.