Colourful businessman and Member of Parliament for Tati East Samson Moyo Guma has applied for a voluntary judicial management of his United Refineries ÔÇô a cooking oil manufacturing plant outside Francistown.
Last week the Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) pounced on Moyo Guma on allegations of tax evasion among others.
On Friday Moyo Guma did not turn up for his appointment with officials from BURS and also the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime.
It turns out that he was seized with lodging an urgent application to have his multi-million Pula company placed under voluntary judicial management.
If he succeeds, Moyo Guma will be saved from the jaws of the taxman who expects millions in tax revenue from him.
Even though they are not listed as respondents, or exactly because they are not listed, BURS is expected to oppose Moyo Guma’s application as a way of proving that they have a vested interest in United Refineries and should thus be listed as a creditor.
CEDA (Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency) which has also made a substantial financial contribution has not been listed as one of the creditors.
BURS also wants to establish who other directors are.
BURS officers are also unhappy at what they perceive to be political intimidation after one of them was told that he will be dealt with once Duma Boko takes over state power.
On the other hand Moyo Guma is also unhappy at what he has been quoted calling political weaponisation of such state institutions like DCEC and BURS.
Following concerns by treasury that tax collections have plummeted, BURs has worked hand in hand with DCEC and the intelligence services to raid high profile tax dodgers.
