Zimra suspends imports ban

Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has suspended the implementation of statutory instrument number 64 of 2016 which sought to tighten screws on imports of basic commodities following protests by travellers at Beitbridge Border post on Saturday. As usual Zimra had started rolling out the new regulations which made the importation of food items, building material, furniture, toiletries and cooking oil among other things virtually impossible, without prior notice to travellers. There was chaos at Beitbridge border post on Saturday afternoon with travellers resisting the seizure of their goods which now require permits.

Some of the listed goods include; salad cream, milk, shoe polish, cooking oil, bottled water, door a and window frames, wheel barrows, baked beans, fertilizer, beds, office furniture, second hand tyres, vegetables , canned fruits, cereals, cheese and ice creams among others.

Sources at the border said yesterday that travellers teamed up and started singing revolutionary songs denouncing Zimra for waylaying them. The situation returned to normalcy when riot police were called in and Zimra’s Regional manager for Beitbridge, Mr Batsirai Chadzingwa, addressed the travellers.

“The regional manager told the travellers that they can revert to the normal situation where they can pay 40 percent duty for their items rather than the provisions of the new Statutory Instrument.

“As of now the implementation of the new regulations is suspended pending consultations with Zimra, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and other stakeholders,” said one border official. Mr Chadzingwa could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The organisations’ communication department had not responded to emailed questions by last night. By end of day yesterday the border was almost empty amid reports that travellers are adopting a wait and see attitude.

“There was chaos on Saturday. We were just told that we are no longer allowed to import food items and building material without permits when we came back from Musina.

“This resulted in protests and anti-riot police were called in to maintain peace. One of the Zimra managers later addressed us and allowed us to pay duty for our goods as per the norm,” said a cross border driver Mr Tawanda Murwira.