Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) is intensifying its efforts to combat smuggling, which remains a significant problem despite ongoing enforcement measures. According to Francis Chimanda, Zimra’s head of corporate communications, people smuggle goods to avoid paying duties and taxes, and to evade controls at entry points.
Zimra has implemented various measures to curb smuggling, including the use of drones along the country’s borders, introduced in June this year. The authority collects revenue, such as customs duty, excise duty, and import value-added tax, at border posts, crucial to Zimbabwe’s economy.
Interestingly, Zimra offers a traveler’s rebate of duty, allowing individuals to import non-commercial goods up to $200 per month duty-free. However, smuggling persists, with private importers exploiting lower duty rates, ranging from 5% for books to 110% for certain alcoholic beverages.
Duty Rates for Non-Commercial Goods:
- Books: 5%
- Alcoholic Beverages: up to 110%
- Cigarettes: flat monetary amount per quantity
- Clothing and Footwear: combination of percentage and flat monetary amount
To address smuggling, Zimra emphasizes the importance of compliance with customs regulations and procedures. The authority provides guidelines on customs clearance, classification of goods, and duty calculations to facilitate legitimate trade.
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