By Rex Mphisa
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority has advised travellers to adhere to their monthly limit of US$200 per calender month rebate when bringing personal goods from outside the country.
The reminder came as a response to an inquiry by Ziyah News Network on the recent activities at Beitbridge where hundreds of travellers are sleeping in the open after trailers of buses they travelled on were detained at the border.
Zimra, under which the department of Customs and Excise falls, said personal goods exceeding this USD200 limit are charged duty on the excess value.
This means the goods will be of commercial value and their processing would be done through bills of entry via the commercial section of Zimra.
Zimra also said the new development witnessed at Beitbridge was also part of “strengthening processes to promote fair trade”.
“The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority advises travellers and cross-border traders that border processes are being strengthened to improve efficiency and promote fair trade. Travellers are reminded that the personal travellers’ rebate is USD200 per person per calendar month, subject to prescribed conditions,” Zimra Marketing and Corporate Affairs Executive Gladman Njanji said in response to questions.
“Personal goods exceeding this USD200 limit are charged duty on the excess value.”
Bulk goods intended for resale or goods in commercial quantities, are classified as commercial consignments and must be duty paid in full, and cleared through licensed clearing agents, he said.
He said duty payment for commercial consignments worth US$1000 and below can be done at the counters without engagement of clearing agents although employ of the agents for such is encouraged to allow for pre-clearance, reducing border delays.
Zimra continued to prioritise faster passengers processing ahead of commercial cargo handled separately through the clearing agents, said Njanji.
“To avoid delays, travellers are encouraged to declare goods accurately, engage licensed clearing agents where required, and utilise pre-clearance facilities before arrival. These measures are designed to facilitate trade while ensuring a smooth, fair and efficient border experience for all,” he said.
The detention of trailers in the border to allow commercial clearing of goods started last Sunday April 12 when several buses which arrived in the Beitbridge border from South Africa were held but all decided to off-hook their trailers and continued their journey.
It is understood the trailers will be picked when processes are concluded.
There were mixed reactions from members of the public, some accusing the organisation of being hard on ordinary people struggling to make ends meet.
An outspoken Beitbridge Councillor Takavingei Mahachi saying poverty and unemployment pushed Zimbabweans into the dehumanising trips to South Africa to fend for their families.
“There are no jobs and most people I saw are women, now breadwinners in most families because they can take the risk to send their children to school and look after their families. The goods people buy are overpriced in Zimbabwe. If one can buy those goods in Johannesburg, cart them to Harare and still sell at lesser than locally produced similar goods, there is something we are having locally, then our prices need to be looked at,” said Mahachi.
Another clearing agent said the new development was good because buses had taken away commercial business from shipping agents.”
“The move brings back our business as clearing agents. Bus operators had taken over trucks business driving many out of employment,” said the agent who asked for anonymity.
There is talk that bulk imports by crossborder traders and smuggling goods using buses drove supermarkets out of business in the country’s cities that are almost impossible to use pavements.
Hundreds of affected people, mostly women have been sleeping in the open in the buses terminal of the Beitbridge in scenes almost like displaced people in the war-torn Middle East.