THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has warned cross-border traders and bus operators against smuggling goods and making false customs declarations, saying such practices undermine efforts to curb the influx of illegal products, including drugs, into the country.
The warning was issued during a tax compliance awareness meeting for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) held at the Small City Hall in Bulawayo recently. Authorities stressed the need for stricter adherence to customs regulations amid rising concern over smuggling and illicit trade through border posts and transport corridors.
The meeting, organised in collaboration with Zimra, brought together MSMEs, traders, transport operators and other business stakeholders to discuss tax compliance, business formalisation and regulatory requirements.
Speaking at the meeting, Zimra Bulawayo customs revenue officer Thembinkosi Ndlovu called on traders and transporters to comply with customs regulations and ensure that goods are declared under the names of their rightful owners.
He said customs officials frequently encounter goods being transported under names that do not belong to the actual owners, making it difficult to maintain accountability and increasing the risk of illegal activities.
“As traders and transporters, we want to stress that we normally come across products that are not in the bearers’ names,” Ndlovu said.
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“The declarations are not in their names. We are asking that when you are declaring at customs, do so in the correct names.”
He also urged transport operators, particularly cross-border bus operators, to avoid transporting dangerous and prohibited goods.
Ndlovu said Zimbabwe continued to grapple with drug and substance abuse, with many illicit substances entering the country from across its borders.
“One of our objectives is to protect society. Recently, the government highlighted drug and substance abuse as a major challenge facing the country,” he said. “As Zimra, questions are often raised about how these drugs find their way into the country.”
Zimra recently intercepted approximately 365 kilogrammes of cannabis, a development that has reinforced the need for stricter enforcement measures at border posts and along transport routes.
Cross-border transport operators raised concern over what they described as repeated searches and inconsistencies in enforcement processes.