Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe
Senior Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s war against counterfeit products and smuggling is emerging as a decisive economic reform lever.
In 2025, the authorities intercepted more than 4 000 illicit consignments — a strong signal of heightened enforcement at the country’s borders.
Beyond law enforcement, the crackdown is delivering strategic economic gains: protecting formal businesses, stabilising markets, safeguarding consumers and securing critical tax revenues that fund public services and infrastructure.
Illicit trade has long functioned as a parallel shadow supply chain — distorting prices, eroding margins for compliant firms and draining the fiscus.
By bypassing customs duties, value-added tax (VAT), excise and regulatory standards, smuggled and counterfeit goods have created structural unfairness in the marketplace, where legitimate producers and retailers absorb costs that illegal traders avoid.
The current enforcement drive is, therefore, restoring competitive balance by shifting commerce back into formal channels and reinforcing Zimbabwe’s industrial and fiscal foundations.
These gains were highlighted last week as Zimbabwe commemorated International Customs Day at the Plumtree Border Post.
During the event, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Deputy Minister David Mnangagwa described modern border management as a core pillar of economic transformation.
Zimbabwe’s borders, he said, are now strategic economic control points, enabling trade while blocking harmful and illegal flows.
“In today’s global economy, the efficiency of our borders directly determines the competitiveness of our nation,” he noted.
Deputy Minister Mnangagwa said the World Customs Organisation theme, “Customs Protecting Society through Vigilance and Commitment”, reflects the evolving role of customs in safeguarding economies while enabling development.
“The theme resonates strongly with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 and our collective aspiration to achieve Vision 2030 — an upper middle-income economy anchored on efficiency, productivity and inclusive growth,” he said.
“In the modern economy, customs administrations are no longer defined solely by enforcement. They are strategic enablers of trade, investment, domestic resource mobilisation and national security.”
That strategic role is already visible in the figures.
“This strategic role is reflected in national revenue performance. In 2025, total revenue collections reached US$7,6 billion, with customs-related taxes contributing approximately 31 percent of total revenue,” Deputy Minister Mnangagwa added.
“This underscores the central role of our borders, not only in facilitating trade and travel but also in financing public services and national infrastructure.”
Performance gains, Deputy Minister Mnangagwa said, are being driven by digitalisation, stronger compliance and tighter enforcement.
He added that these results were achieved alongside sustained efforts to facilitate legitimate trade.
“At the same time, the Government continues to apply targeted customs and domestic tax incentives to support productive sectors, regional trade, investment and industrialisation, while carefully managing the fiscal cost of these measures.”
Despite these gains, illicit trade remains a major economic risk.
“Smuggling and illicit trade remain significant threats to revenue mobilisation, legitimate business, public health and economic stability. The interception of over 4 000 illicit consignments in 2025 demonstrates both the scale of the challenge and the vigilance of our customs administration.”
The response is increasingly intelligence-driven and technology-led.
Key reforms, including the Electronic Tariff Platform, the upgrading of ASYCUDAWorld and the rollout of the Zimbabwe Electronic Single Window, are transforming border management into an integrated, efficient and transparent system.
“As a Government, we are unequivocal: Modern and efficient borders are gateways to an upper middle-income economy,” he said, urging the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) to continue simplifying procedures and expanding trusted trader programmes to reward compliant businesses.
Institutional strength and industrial protection
Zimra’s acting Commissioner-General Mr Misheck Govha said enforcement is being matched by institutional strengthening.
With 17 border posts, six international and commercial airports, and over 1 200 customs officers, Zimra stands as a national shield at every point of entry.
“In 2025 alone, customs and trade-related taxes contributed about 31 percent of Zimra’s total revenue, proving that strong borders are the foundation of a strong economy,” Mr Govha said.
Experts agree that the anti-counterfeit drive is also an industrial policy tool.
Regional customs expert Mr Gilbert Mawana said: “Counterfeit goods directly weaken domestic industry by undercutting compliant manufacturers who pay taxes and employ local labour. Scaling up the anti-counterfeit drive strengthens domestic resource mobilisation without increasing the tax burden on compliant citizens.”
Customs risk management specialist Ms Taboka Ndlovu added that the drive strengthens market confidence.
“When enforcement is consistent and technology-driven, it raises the cost of illegal trade and shifts commerce back into formal channels,” she said.
“That improves competitiveness and strengthens Zimbabwe’s position in regional value chains.”
For the business community, the message is clear: The operating environment is being recalibrated in favour of compliant players.
The intensified crackdown, led by the National Anti-Smuggling Task Force, has already resulted in the seizure of goods worth millions of dollars, including vehicles and second-hand clothing.
The operation coordinates efforts between the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Zimra, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and the Consumer Protection Commission.
As smugglers adopt more sophisticated tactics, the authorities are scaling up data-driven monitoring and modern border-control technologies to protect the integrity of the Zimbabwean market
Tinaye Agere