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Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]

IN late 2024, the Government intensified efforts to combat the illegal movement of goods across borders, a critical component of a broader strategy to stabilise the economy and promote lawful trade practices.

Smuggling has long been a significant challenge, severely undermining the economy, crippling local industries, and stifling revenue collection.

At the heart of this initiative is the National Anti-smuggling Task Force, which has seized millions of dollars’ worth of contraband.

State warehouses, particularly the Container Depot (CONDEP) in Bulawayo, are now overflowing with confiscated items, including luxury vehicles, cross-border buses, haulage trucks, foodstuffs, and second-hand clothing.

Zimra reports that approximately US$2,4 million worth of goods have been impounded in a multi-agency operation targeting smuggling and unethical practices among importers and transporters.

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This crackdown involves collaboration among the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, and the Consumer Protection Commission to prevent illicit goods from entering local markets.

Smugglers employ increasingly sophisticated methods to evade duties, prompting authorities to invest in advanced technology to counteract these activities.

The economic impact of smuggling is profound.

It deprives the Government of critical tax revenues and customs duties needed to fund public services and infrastructure, exacerbating budget deficits and limiting investments in vital sectors.

The influx of smuggled goods, often cheaper due to tax evasion, unfairly competes with locally produced items, threatening the survival of domestic industries, resulting in job losses, and reducing overall economic activity.

Moreover, smuggling often involves the illegal transfer of foreign currency out of the country, worsening currency shortages and contributing to the devaluation of the local currency.

This instability disrupts business planning and investment, further stifling economic growth.

Industry leaders emphasise that smuggling distorts market dynamics, creating an uneven playing field. Legitimate businesses that comply with regulations struggle to compete with smuggled goods, leading to market inefficiencies and reduced competitiveness.

Additionally, smuggling is closely linked to organised crime and corruption, undermining governance and the rule of law, and creating an environment detrimental to economic development.

Recognising the complexity of the issue, authorities are adopting a multifaceted approach to address smuggling.

This includes strengthening border controls, enhancing customs enforcement, improving transparency and accountability, and implementing economic policies that support local industries and reduce the incentives for smuggling.

At the International Customs Day commemorations recently, Zimra Commissioner-General Ms Regina Chinamasa noted that the agency collects over 95 percent of national revenue annually, which supports essential Government functions and social programmes.

Ms Regina Chinamasa

She stressed that such revenue is vital for sustaining education, healthcare, and infrastructure, warning that without it, the foundation of society could be compromised.

“This means that the work we do directly impacts education, healthcare, infrastructure development, and countless other essential services that benefit our citizens. Without these revenues, the very fabric of our society would be at risk,” she said.

Ms Chinamasa emphasised that by implementing data-driven operations and advanced technologies such as data analytics and Artificial Intelligence, the country can enhance decision-making processes and optimise resource allocation.

“Moreover, we must not overlook our duty to ensure security. Strengthening value chain security and combating the movement of illicit goods are critical to maintaining the integrity of our borders. Our collaboration with other governmental agencies and international organisations is essential in this effort,” she said.

The Government, through Statutory Instrument 7 of 2025, has identified 19 goods that will be presumed smuggled unless importers produce genuine documentation proving duty payment, as the Second Republic intensifies its crackdown on illicit trade.

These goods include alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, cement, clothing, footwear, dairy products, diapers, electrical appliances, cables and accessories, ploughs and parts thereof, processed meat, rice, pasta, sugar, tyres, motor spares, washing powder and detergents, biscuits, sweets, laundry and bath soaps.

Speaking at the International Customs Day commemorations, Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube stressed that customs authorities are the first line of defence in protecting national borders.
He stressed the need to actively combat the movement of illicit goods and ensure that trade routes are secure.

Professor Mthuli Ncube

To this end, he said the government will continue to provide unwavering support to Zimra to acquire the latest tools, equipment, and technology to further boost the fight against the trafficking of illicit goods.

“By leveraging advanced technologies, as we have already begun to do, we can enhance our capacity to monitor trade, travel, and economic activities along the value chain and secure much-needed revenue,” he said.

During his 2025 national budget presentation in Parliament, Prof Ncube said smuggling not only affects the collection of customs and excise duty but also discourages investment.
“In addition, smuggling is a threat to public health and safety as smuggled goods, in particular, food items, medicines, and alcohol, are not subject to health and safety controls,” said Prof Ncube.

The country’s adoption of advanced technologies, including drones and surveillance systems, has been instrumental in detecting and preventing illegal cross-border activities.
Stricter penalties, including fines and imprisonment, are now enforced against those involved in smuggling.

The Government has declared that the anti-smuggling campaign is now standard procedure, directing implementing agencies to execute it assertively and impartially to stop the influx of illicit goods and protect local industries.

Recently, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, the Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution, witnessed the sheer scale of the problem first-hand during a tour of the Container Depot (Condep) in Bulawayo.

Eng Muguti said the anti-smuggling drive is now standard procedure and is here for the long haul.

“The anti-smuggling campaign is now a lifestyle. We are simply saying zero tolerance to smuggling,” said Eng Muguti.

Perm Sec Eng T Muguti tours Vulindlela Pry School.jypg

He added that all confiscated goods would be forfeited to the State, and second-hand clothes would be incinerated across provinces at Government hospitals.

Goods can be held for 60 to 90 days under the Customs and Excise Act, and various disposal methods, including rummage sales and destruction, are used to clear warehouses.

The business sector has consistently raised concerns that smuggled goods, often cheaper due to evaded duties, create unfair competition for local products, harming domestic industries and disrupting prices, thereby contributing to economic instability.

Listed wine and spirits manufacturer, African Distillers Limited (Afdis), has previously acknowledged the significant impact of illicit products, often non-compliant with regulations, and the rise of irregular imports from neighbouring countries on its sales volumes and overall operations.

Afdis, a unit of Delta Corporation, is hopeful that the current crackdown on smuggled alcohol will reduce unfair competition from the informal market.

“It is hoped that the current blitz against illicit and smuggled alcohol will curtail unfair competition,” said Delta Corporation company secretary Ms Faith Musinga in the third-quarter trading update to December 2024.

The message from authorities is loud and clear: smuggling will not be tolerated, and various agencies are prepared to take decisive action against those who engage in these illegal activities.