Zimbabwe tightens state controls to stamp out smuggling

Goods can be seized up to six years after importation Martin Rushmere TIGHTER CONTROLS are being introduced by the Zimbabwe government to curb cross-border smuggling. Finance Minister Simba Makoni recently told parliament in his budget proposals for the year beginning January 1 that the customs department would be allowed up to six years in which to seize suspect goods, from the date of importation. Previously the time limit was two years. If fraud is involved in imports, there is no limit to the period in which the goods can be seized. Importers who want to appeal against seizure now have only three months to do so, compared with eight months previously. Rewards to "whistle blowers" - those who tell the authorities of illegal actions - are being expanded from customs informants to all government departments. The reward of 10% of the seized goods will stay the same. Although no change in customs and excise duties is proposed, analysts say radical changes will probably be made within the next three months. There was considerable speculation that duties on imported vehicles would be raised, to protect the domestic assembly plants. Said one analyst: "It seems that senior ruling party officials stopped the increases because they are bringing in huge numbers of vehicles from South Africa."