New ZIMRA policy on temporary import of vehicles sparks headache for Zimbabweans fleeing SA xenophobia

THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority’s (ZIMRA) new Temporary Import Permit (TIP) policy is causing headaches for Zimbabweans who are now being ordered to pay duty for personal vehicles they brought in during their flight from South African vigilante groups such as Operation Dudula, NewZimbabwe.com has been told.

Announced earlier this week, the new policy demands that owners of South African and other foreign registered vehicles pay duty for their cars upon entry over and above the US$10 road access fee, US$30 third party insurance and US$10 carbon tax.

South African based locals, some of whom said have businesses in both countries, have also been affected. Failure to adhere to these measures means they have to drive their vehicles back to South Africa.

Renewal of their TIPs has been suspended pending payment of duty for their vehicles. The duty will be claimed upon exit as is being done with trucks transiting through Zimbabwe.

ZIMRA corporate affairs department was unavailable for comment when NewZimbabwe.com called.

“This policy was announced on Wednesday, my TIP expires next week Monday and I had thought of extending it a few days before its expiration only to be told I have to pay duty for my car within three days,” said an aggrieved citizen who declined to be named for fear of victimisation by ZIMRA.

“I decided to temporarily come back home as the situation in South Africa calms down. My plan is to go back there after their upcoming elections.

“There is absolutely no way I can raise the required duty, especially at such short notice. ZIMRA has to reconsider this policy and give locals reprieve considering what we have been going through in South Africa in the past months.”

Government has repatriated between 21,000 and 30,000 Zimbabweans fleeing anti-immigrants, vigilante groups that are freely roaming South African cities.

Between 56,000 and 70,000 have self-repatriated, making independent arrangements to travel through Beit Bridge so as to avoid violence, looting and threats at the hands of these groupings.

ZIMRA had initially sought to make things easier by suspending duty through Statutory Instrument 10 of 2022 which is now being disregarded.

“I travel a lot between Zimbabwe and South Africa as I have businesses in both countries, this will definitely make it harder for me to manage my local investment,” said another victim.

“It is an anti-business policy that should have been widely discussed first. Implementing it will definitely affect more people, some of whom might have no one to talk to.”

Reports indicate ZIMRA wanted to deal with errant individuals abusing the TIP system by using foreign registered vehicles for unrealistically long periods.

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