Recently in Beitbridge

THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has initiated a 100 percent search programme on cargo coming into the country through Beitbridge Border Post following an increase in cases of smuggling.
The programme comes against concerns and complaints from the local manufacturing sector with regards to the high volumes of illegal and substandard goods making their way into the country at low prices, rendering those locally produced uncompetitive.
The tight and intense searches went into effect following the arrival of an anti-smuggling team led by the authority’s Commissioner General Gershom Pasi two months ago.
This development is aimed at curbing the smuggling of South African goods into Zimbabwe and to boost revenue for the Government.
The development has seen ZIMRA increasing the number of officers searching vehicles and buses.
On average, three revenue officers are now searching a single bus, the task which was previously carried by one officer.
The hardest hit group of travellers are cross border traders who are in the habit of smuggling goods that fall outside the tax rebate.
Most of the smuggled goods include groceries, flea market wares, alcohol beverages and the banned genetically modified foodstuffs, especially chickens, eggs and potatoes.
“The smuggling of items which are outside the traveller’s rebate such as clothing item, blankets, and electrical gadgets such as refrigerators and stoves is a cause of concern and hence we decided to tighten screws on the imports side,” said one of the officials.
Government last year banned individual and cross border travellers from importing groceries such as cooking oil, milk products and soap among other products.
According to Statutory Instrument number 126 of 2014 (Control of Goods [Open General Import Licence No.2] Amendment notice No 3), individual travellers and traders are required to obtain permits for importing milk (liquid and powder), cooking oil, washing powder, soap, potatoes, tomatoes, onions and eggs.
Prior to this instrument, individual travellers were importing such goods in their personal capacity.
Travellers and Beitbridge residents are crying foul over Zimra’s sweeping measures at the border post.
Sources in Zimra said the move was meant to stop the abuse of daily remissions allowed only to residents of Beitbridge who are now said to be abusing it for commercial purposes by importing bulk goods for resale.
Over the years, and owing to their proximity to South Africa and the absence of larger supermarkets at home, Beitbridge residents were allowed, on a daily basis, to import certain goods without paying duty.
As a result, most people in the border town took advantage of the facility to go into business by importing goods in bulk for resale.
Some had even established standing orders to supply stores across the country.
But customs officials have descended heavily on the locals engaged in such practices and are confiscating goods on the ‘wanted’ list.
Zimra sources confirmed having seized thousands of litres of cooking oil, powdered milk, washing powder and soap from individual importers.
More so the country’s reliance on imports continues to drain the economy after registering a negative trade balance of $271,1 million in January alone, latest trade data shows.
Information from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) shows that goods worth US$538,2 million were imported while exports stood at US$267 million.
Presenting the 2015 National Budget last year Minister Chinamasa projected that merchandise imports would jump to US$6,6 billion this year compared to last year’s US$5,5 billion.