By Rex Mphisa
THE Customs and Excise Department has brought a relief for returnees from South africa who will be able to enjoy rebates for their personal effects after introducing flexible Customs Administration for the repatriates.
In a notice confirmed authentic by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority corporate affars executive Gladman Njanji, the returnees are also able to import each a vehicle subject to thorough verification processes.
“The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion has approved the implementation of a Flexible Customs Administration Mechanism to facilitate clearance of the repatriation of Zimbabweans from South Africa,” said a notice by Zimra.
“This measure is in addition to the existing legal framework governing returning residents, as provided for under Section 105 of the Customs and Excise (General) Regulations and Statutory Instrument 10 of 2022,” it said.
Provisions under the arrangement are wide and inclusie of personal belongings used by returning residents which shall be admitted duty-free.
These include clothing, furniture, kitchen utensils, and other household effects.
Under the pre-owne business or capital goods all used business or capital goods previously utilised by the returning resident may be admitted under rebate.
“This includes computers, furniture, equipment, and tools. Proof of ownership of both the business and the goods must be provided,” said the notice.
It also said returning residents may each import one motor vehicle under duty suspension, subject to the conditions stipulated in Statutory Instrument 10 of 2022. Value Added Tax (VAT) will however remain payable.
The notice said Customs authorities shall conduct thorough interviews and documentary verification to confirm bona fide returning residents and to prevent abuse of the facility by cross-border traders.
Passports and travel records shall be carefully examined to assess travel frequency and patterns, in order to distinguish genuine returning residents from frequent cross-border traders.
Thousands of Zimbabweans have been returning home after the March and March citizen led movement forced them to exit South Africa.
The Zimbabweans and other nationals have been accused of taking jobs meant for South Africans but President Cyril Ramaphosa has hinted there was a “third force”.
Ugly scenes were recorded on social media including the inhumane assault of a rucker believed to be Namibian filmed in a bloody incident in Durban.
At Beitbridge foreign nationals who voluntarily agreed to be repatriated from Cape Town to the Beitbridge border have expressed dismay after learning they would be declared undesirable and barred from re-entering South Africa for up to five years.
Since Sunday, the Department of Home Affairs office in Epping has served as the processing centre for hundreds of Zimbabwean nationals who fled from various parts of the Western Cape amid fears of violence ahead of Tuesday’s planned nationwide anti-immigration protests.
The voluntary departures come despite repeated assurances from President Cyril Ramaphosa and Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia that while peaceful protest is protected under the Constitution, intimidation, vigilantism and attacks on foreign nationals would not be tolerated.