Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, [email protected]
THE use of the latest technology at the disposal of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and other security stakeholders has yielded successful outcomes leading to arrests, confiscation and destruction of equipment used in illegal activities at the border between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Last week Zimra, in collaboration with key border security agencies, confiscated and destroyed 21 smuggling boats and 20 paddles along the Limpopo River.
The operation saw Zimra’s elite drone operations team, customs officers, and other border security stakeholders patrolling key smuggling hotspots, providing real-time aerial intelligence that led to the swift interception and destruction of smuggling infrastructure.
“Equipped with night vision and high-resolution cameras, Zimra’s drones have been instrumental in identifying illegal crossing points and exposing deeply entrenched smuggling networks,” Zimra spokesperson Mr Francis Chimanda said.
“Drones have revolutionised border security, providing unparalleled aerial surveillance and tracking smugglers in real time, even in remote areas that were previously difficult to monitor.”
The use of technology has allowed Zimra to detect smuggling activities with precision and speed, ensuring that illicit goods do not make their way into the market.
The operation was intelligence-driven and targeted five notorious smuggling corridors, informally known as Valley 1 and 2, Proof, Godfather and Thembani, said Mr Chimanda.
At these illegal crossing points, the surveillance teams uncovered a fleet of inflatable boats strategically positioned on both the South African and Zimbabwean sides, vehicles and donkey-drawn carts on standby, ready to transport smuggled goods inland and boats being used to ferry illicit goods across the border.
During the festive season, Zimra embarked on a nationwide blitz targeting smuggled goods sold in shops and business.
In Bulawayo the blitz resulted in scores of traders operating at Haddon and Sly Building and Amaya Mall in the city’s central business district being locked out as Zimra closed the premises as part of the operation.
The blitz was part of a broader multi-agency initiative aimed at curbing smuggling and unethical business practices, protecting local industries and ensuring consumer welfare.
It focused on entertainment spots, liquor vendors and businesses engaged in the trade of contraband, counterfeit products, or unethical practices.
Retail outlets and leased shops across the country are subject to impromptu inspections, with owners required to provide documentation verifying that their stock was imported legally. Businesses failing to comply face heavy fines and potential seizure of their merchandise.
