A Harare businessman was arrested at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport after allegedly attempting to smuggle US$80 000 out of Zimbabwe. Victor Magigwana appeared before magistrate Jesse Kufa facing charges under the Exchange Control Act. Officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority seized US$78 000 after the suspect failed to produce authorisation from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
A Harare businessman was arrested at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport after authorities allegedly found him attempting to leave the country with undeclared foreign currency amounting to US$80 000.
The suspect, Victor Magigwana (32), was intercepted while preparing to board a Tanzania Airways flight to Tanzania. Officials discovered the cash in his handbag during a search carried out by airport security personnel.
Magigwana later appeared before Harare regional magistrate Jesse Kufa facing charges of unlawful exportation of foreign currency in violation of the Exchange Control Act. The court granted him bail of US$300.
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Prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi told the court that detectives from the CID Commercial Crime Division in Harare received a tip-off on March 14, 2026, from a reliable source.
The information indicated that Magigwana was planning to smuggle cash out of the country through Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Following the tip-off, detectives alerted airport security personnel and police officers stationed at the airport to monitor the situation.
As Magigwana was about to board a Tanzania Airways flight, airport security intercepted him and conducted a search of his belongings. During the search, officers discovered US$80 000 in his handbag.
Court proceedings heard that the accused did not have authorisation documents from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe allowing him to export the foreign currency.
Magigwana was later handed over to officials from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), who seized US$78 000 of the money under a combined receipt and notice of seizure for currency.
Authorities returned US$2 000 to the accused in line with the legal travel allowance permitted for travellers. The total value of the recovered foreign currency is US$78 000.
