A Harare company has appeared in court for allegedly making external payments worth more than R1.6 million to South Africa and Eswatini through an informal Hawala system without approval from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.
Unicorn Trading Private Limited, represented by its finance manager Ryan Eric Maidwell, is facing charges of contravening the Exchange Control Act.
The State is represented by Detective Assistant Inspector Marange of the CID Asset Forfeiture Unit, Northern Region.
According to the State, detectives received information on September 1, 2026 that the company was using an informal payment system to pay for goods imported from South Africa and Eswatini without RBZ approval.
Detectives then went to the company’s premises at Number 22 George Avenue, Msasa, where they met Maidwell.
The detectives identified themselves using their service identity cards and explained the purpose of their visit.
They allegedly asked the company to produce bills of entry covering the period from January 1 to August 31, 2026, together with documents showing that the company had obtained RBZ approval for the external payments.
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The State alleges that the company failed to produce telegraphic transfer records showing payments made through banks.
Instead, the company allegedly used the Hawala system to make payments outside Zimbabwe.
Maidwell was subsequently arrested.
On September 4, 2026, the company passed a resolution appointing him as its representative in the matter.
He was then taken to the CID Asset Forfeiture Unit, Northern Region, for further management of the case.
The State alleges that the payments involved R1,687,186.81 and SZL519,911.15.
Nothing was recovered during the investigations.
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