TRUCKS, mainly those carrying goods known as consolidated
cargo, have been piling up at Beitbridge Border Post in the past five days
after the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) introduced the 100 percent
compliance searches.
Cross-border transporters commonly known as omalayitsha
yesterday accused Zimra of implementing the new system while ill prepared.
Over 70 trucks were seen waiting at the border on the
commercial arrival side and the drivers had become restless.
In separate interviews, the truckers said the revenue
authority had no adequate manpower to conduct the physical examination of
goods.
They said in some cases they were being made to pay
additional duty despite having utilised the pre-clearance system to minimise
delays.
Under the pre-clearance system, goods are declared and duty
is paid for before the consignment gets to the respective port of entry.
Once these goods arrive, they are only checked for
compliance making the crossing seamless.
This is opposed to a scenario where the whole clearance
process is imitated upon arrival at the country’s borders.
“I have been here for four days. Nothing is moving and most
of us are carrying groceries, among them perishables.
“Customs authorities want to search every vehicle. We don’t
have any problem with that, but our concerns arise from the fact that they are
searching between two and three trucks daily which is not attainable,” said Mr
Aron Mangavha.
Another driver, who preferred anonymity, said they had
tried to engage the local Zimra managers in the last three days without
success.
He said the idea by Zimra to shift goal posts on import
duty payments had set them on a collision course with their clients.
“This is antagonising our relationship with clients
considering that declarations are made in advance and we have to go back to
them asking for top ups,” said the driver.
Mr Nyasha Machaya said previously they would spend less
than three hours to conclude all the border processes.
He said they were now incurring extra costs in hiring
labour to offload and reload the goods, since Zimra has no adequate manpower.
“To make matters worse, we are at risk of Covid-19
infections as you can see, we are now crowded with limited ablution and related
sanitation facilities,” he said.
Some truckers, mostly those plying the Beitbridge-Bulawayo
road said they had suffered enough abuse within and outside the border post at
the hands of security officials.
“We are concerned with the conduct of the security agencies
who are always threatening us and demanding bribes despite having complied with
all the border processes.
“For convenience sake, we are being made to pay R1 500 at
each road block until we get to Bulawayo. This is getting out of hand,” alleged
one driver.
Though, Zimra’s spokesperson, Mr Francis Chimanda could not
readily respond to the issues yesterday, an official at Beitbridge said the 100
percent searches were a response to the rampant cases of smuggling involving
rigid trucks (omalayitsha).
“There is an increase in cases of smuggling by these
transporters, most of who making false declarations and hence the need to enforce
compliance,” said the official.
In May, Zimra activated an imports relief facility to help
Zimbabweans based in South Africa to send groceries and other goods home in
commercial trucks through Beitbridge Border Post.
South Africa is home to thousands of Zimbabwe migrant
workers, most of whom are supporting their families by sending groceries home
through the services mostly of omalayitsha weekly.
Zimbabwe imports goods worth an estimated US$3 billion from
South Africa annually. Chronicle
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