admin
Thupeyo Muleya
Beitbridge Bureau
There was a near riotous situation at Dulivhadzimu bus terminus in Beitbridge on Wednesday, when some hoodlums looted goods from a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) truck that was being used to ferry smuggled goods that had been seized from intercity buses in the afternoon.
Security agencies had to fire two warning shots to disperse the looters and the crowd that had started blocking the main road to the bus terminus.
Chaos broke out when the joint anti-smuggling task force team had seized goods worth thousands of dollars which had been loaded in the buses after allegedly being smuggled through illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River.
Government is ramping up efforts to combat smuggling along the border with South Africa, where significant revenue being lost to syndicates have been reported.
“We are not taking our foot off the pedal as the police. We had to fire two warning shots to disperse a riotous crowd at Dulivhadzimu bus terminus when some unruly elements looted goods from a Zimra truck and also blocked the road leading to the terminus,” said the acting police officer commanding Beitbridge Superintendent Philisani Ndebele.
“Fortunately no one was injured during the incident. However, we are pursuing the suspects based on the information we have on the ground.
“At the same time, we are calling on members of the public to share any valuable information that may lead to the swift arrest of these suspects.”
He said the Government was losing a lot of import revenue to smuggling syndicates.
Supt Ndebele encouraged people to import or export goods and commodities in line with the customs laws.
He said the security agents and other stakeholders were on the ground to enforce the law and bring to book those caught on the wrong side of the law.
The national anti-smuggling task force is at the forefront of this initiative, with people who failed to pay millions of dollars in import duties having their goods being seized in recent operations between Beitbridge and Harare.
The crackdown is being led by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, alongside the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), and the Consumer Protection Commission.
The goal is to halt the influx of illicit goods into local markets.
Recent efforts have resulted in the interception of numerous intercity buses loaded with suspected smuggled goods.
According to security officials, smugglers are avoiding the border and using the border flanks.
They then load the goods into intercity buses or cargo trucks in Beitbridge before transporting them to various destinations in Zimbabwe.
To enhance surveillance, authorities are deploying high-tech security systems, including drone surveillance.
Since the introduction of these systems and fast cargo scanners in January, Zimra has been able to intercept more people planning to smuggle imported goods.
The crackdown has intensified in known smuggling hotspots, with additional drones and scanners set to be deployed to other entry points like Forbes and Chirundu.
Speaking during a visit by the Public Accounts Committee at Beitbridge recently, Zimra’s Commissioner for Customs and Excise, Mr Batsirai Chadzingwa, said all the 16 State warehouses at the border were overflowing with detained goods.
He explained that most goods are detained for falling under restricted categories, including meat and lithium.
Goods can be held for 60 to 90 days under the Customs and Excise Act.
Various disposal methods, including rummage sales and destruction, are used to clear warehouses.
“In case of the appropriation of goods, the beneficiaries include Government departments, hospitals and social welfare organisations,” Chadzingwa added.
This intensified crackdown aims to protect local businesses and ensure compliance with Zimbabwe’s customs laws, sending a strong message against smuggling activities.
Online Reporter