Beitbridge border returns to ‘normalcy’ after suspension of import control scheme
The Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe has reportedly returned to “normalcy” after the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) was forced to suspend its import control scheme.
The New Zimbabwean newspaper quoted “local residents and civil servants” at the border town a saying there had been no further signs of disruptions at the border post.
Following riots and unrest at the border post earlier this week – during which 32 people were arrested – Zimra suspended the implementation of statutory instrument number 64 of 2016 - which sought to place rigid control on imports of basic commodities.
The revenue authority had started rolling out the new regulations – which made the import of food items, building materials, furniture, toiletries and cooking oil among other things, virtually impossible – over this past weekend.
But, with no prior notice of the need to have an import permit, chaos ensued at Beitbridge border post on Saturday - with traders resisting the seizure of their import goods.
The import control system – calling amongst others for higher import duties and a new permit system – was implemented to protect a struggling and poorly capacitated local industry. South Africa accounts for most imports into Zimbabwe, with about $798m worth of goods imported into Zimbabwe in the last five months.
Zimra has now restored the previous dispensation where it levies a 40% import duty on most goods and commodities.
“As of now, the implementation of the new regulations is suspended pending consultations between Zimra, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and other stakeholders,” the state-owned, The Herald, newspaper quoted a Zimra official as saying.
