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Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
The introduction of hi-tech security at the Beitbridge Border Post, including drone surveillance, has helped the Government increase its capacity to curb leaks through the port of entry and its flanks.
Since the launch of the drones and the fast cargo scanners by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister, Prof Mthuli Ncube in January, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has been able to make more than three daily major interceptions of smuggled goods.
Under the new order, authorities were able to increase surveillance in all hotspot areas and minimise the loss of revenue that is critical in funding Government commitments.
It is understood that more drones, ECTS and fast scanners will soon be deployed to other ports of entry/exit, including Forbes and Chirundu. So far, ZIMRA is operating seven drones at the border, while more are being procured.
Speaking during a visit by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee at Beitbridge recently, ZIMRA’s Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Mr Batsirai Chadzingwa, said all the 16 State warehouses were overflowing with detained goods.
Zimra was restricted from quickly disposing of the goods by the laws as they had to be kept for between 60 days and 90 days.
There were 16 State warehouses at Beitbridge where goods detained under Section 39(1) of the Customs and Excise Act were held, .
He said most goods were being detained after being intercepted for falling under the restricted or prohibited goods category, and these included meat. Some are seized for being smuggled, general non-compliance with import or export regulations, controls, for example, lithium and chrome exports, false declarations, incorrect customs tariff classification, origin of goods and in cases where an importer undervalued them.
Mr Chadzingwa said goods on receipt for items held were being detained in State warehouses for 60 days, while those on notice of seizure were being kept for 90 days.
“So to clear the warehouse, we use various methods of disposal including rummage sale, informal tender, destruction, and appropriation to the State.
“In case of the appropriation of goods, the beneficiaries include Government departments, hospitals and social welfare organisations and the fresh farm produce and perishables are appropriated to local prison and hospital.
“However, these are firstly approved by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion.”
Most appropriated goods were motor vehicles, blankets, mealie meal and groceries.
He said as interceptions were increasing daily, Zimra faced a serious shortage of warehousing space. The smuggling of goods was on the rise, mainly detected through use of drone technology.
Mr Chadzingwa said Zimra currently had limited capacity for destruction, especially of bottled beverages, and had a shortage of trucks to ferry goods for warehousing and was running out of shelving space.
“As much as we continue to make interceptions, the warehouses are overflowing because we have limited capacity of destruction incinerators and we have challenges with recommended methods of destruction for bottled beverages,” he said.
Online Reporter