Zimpapers Logo

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has come up with a raft of measures to operationalise the Government’s national response plan to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic through the country’s ports of entry.

The revenue authority said in a public notice that travellers and other clients among them importers, exporters and customs clearing agents are encouraged to use the e-services to minimise the interface with customs and excise officers.

All physical examinations on goods (inbound and out bound) and the clearing of goods including vehicles under the Immigrant Rebate facility have been suspended. The Herald is reliably informed that at least 3 500 vehicles are imported through the Immigrant Rebate facility annually at Beitbridge Border Post alone.

It is also reported that, on average 670 imports bills for entry are processed at Beitbridge including those in transit and 100 are handled on the export side.

According to the Statutory Instrument 154 of 2001 – Customs and Excise (General) Regulations, 2001, an Immigrant Rebate is granted to any person who enters the country to take permanent residence or a visitor but remains to take up employment or permanent residence or a diplomat but remains to take up employment or permanent residence or to attend any educational institution; or for the purpose of attending any educational institution.

They are allowed to import household property and vehicles duty free on condition that they satisfy the Zimra Commissioner General that they owned the goods and the same (goods) were fully paid for before or on the first occasion of entry into the country and declaration as an immigrant.

“Please be advised that with effect from 24 March 2020, the clearance of immigrants has been suspended forthwith in line with the precautions stipulated by Government,” said Zimra in the notice.

“All immigrants should approach ZIMRA for clearance not earlier than 21 days after their time of arrival with certification from a medical institution that they have been cleared of infection.

“Vehicles imported by immigrants will be placed on RIH pending clearance by owners. Any appeals against the Regional Manager’s decision for old, pending or current cases should be submitted in writing by email to the following addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].”