Bongani Ndlovu
Chief Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has impounded goods valued at approximately US$2,4 million in a multi-agency operation targeting importers and cross-border transporters involved in smuggling and unethical business practices.
The operation has resulted in the seizure of dozens of vehicles, including cross-border buses and haulage trucks, and confiscation of illicit goods such as foodstuffs and second-hand clothes.
According to Zimra, the operation, which involves inspections of vehicular traffic, particularly commercial and passenger transport vehicles on cross-border trade routes, is targeting transporters and non-compliant importers.
Zimra Commissioner-General Ms Regina Chinamasa told The Sunday Mail that “our State warehouses are at full capacity with recovered goods”.
“We have seized items with a total duty value of ZiG46 242 385 (about US$1,8 million, using the official exchange rate) and US$572 199,” said Ms Chinamasa.
“The ultimate goals are to curb smuggling, promote voluntary compliance and encourage ethical business practices. Once voluntary compliance improves, controls will remain as part of ongoing risk management to sustain compliance.”
The ongoing blitz is also designed to address the growing risks of smuggling, which pose threats to legitimate trade, economic development and public safety.
“Zimra’s current operation targets non-compliant importers, not transporters, to combat smuggling,” she said.
“It involves stopping and inspecting vehicular traffic, particularly commercial and passenger transporters, on cross-border trade routes.
“These routine enforcement activities have intensified in response to rising smuggling risks, which threaten legitimate trade, economic development and public safety.”
The operation, she added, aims to regularise imports, ensuring all importers pay duties and taxes while addressing domestic tax liabilities for both formal and informal traders.
“It also protects the public from harmful imports, such as hazardous foodstuffs and cosmetics, and safeguards businesses from trade malpractices like counterfeiting and intellectual property violations. Additionally, it supports legitimate traders facing unfair competition and enhances supply chain and national security.”
Last year, the Government, through a high-level task force on business malpractices established by Cabinet, launched a multi-agency operation to clamp down on smuggling and unethical business practices.
The authorities believe smuggling is undermining local industries and threatening consumer welfare.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is spearheading the task force, in collaboration with Zimra, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), the Consumer Protection Commission and other law-enforcement agencies.
Businesses using parallel market exchange rates and selling counterfeit, underweight or unlabelled goods are also being targeted.
To enforce compliance, the authorities have set up 24-hour roadblocks along highways leading into all major cities.
Retail shops are also being subjected to impromptu inspections, where owners are being asked to provide documentation to prove their stock was imported legally.
Those unable to comply face steep fines and seizure of goods.
Online Reporter
