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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) handled a total of 5,978 second hand vehicle imports from Japan through the Beitbridge Border Post between January and March this year.

The tax authority handles an average of 100 vehicle imports at Manica Transit shed at Beitbridge, the country’s busiest port of entry.

Vehicle imports through Beitbridge Border Post have started dwindling as most dealers now prefer using less busy border posts such as Plumtree, Chirundu and Kazungula.

Zimra’s director of legal and corporate affairs Florence Jambwa said: “A total of 5,978 vehicles were imported through Beitbridge Border Post between the months of January and March 2015. Most of the vehicles were imported from Japan and South Africa. Others were imported from Singapore and the United Kingdom.”

Jambwa said the rates for excise duty on vehicle imports were dependent on the engine capacity and year of manufacture.

She said the processing of vehicle imports could take less than one hour depending on the availability of all the requisite documents, which include invoice, bill of laden and a bill of entry and export from South Africa, among others.

Concerning vehicles imported from South Africa, an importer needs to produce a Southern African regional police chief’s coordination organisation (SARPCCO) clearance certificate, vehicle registration book, invoice and an agreement of sale where the car would have been bought from a private individual.

Last year the government increased the customs duty on a single cab of a payload more than 800kg from 20 percent to 40 percent.

Buses with a carrying capacity of 26 passengers and above now pay 40 percent duty.

Previously buses were being imported duty free and would pay VAT only.

Double cab trucks were reviewed from 40 percent to 60 percent and passenger motor vehicles of engine capacity below 1,500cc from 25 percent to 40 percent.

Customs duty for vehicles with engines above 1,500cc has not been changed from 86 percent inclusive of VAT and Surtax.

As it stands all vehicles are now paying an average customs duty of 86 percent regardless of engine capacity.

Jambwa said Zimra had come up with a raft of measures to curb the smuggling of goods at Beitbridge border post.

“The quantities of the goods seized are available per each detention notice but can’t be tabulated due to the numerous types of goods involved,” she said.

“Seized items include but are not limited to powdered milk, cooking oil and soap. Goods are mainly seized because of undervaluation, non-declaration and lack of the necessary importation documents such as licences and permits.”

Jambwa said the strategies include client education through various media to encourage compliance, use of non-intrusive scanners, Canine Unit, physical examinations, post-importation audits and border patrols in conjunction with law enforcement agencies.