What every trader must know about SI 59 of 2026

Zimbabwe’s import business has entered a new regulatory era following the promulgation of Statutory Instrument 59 of 2026.

Officially titled the Control of Goods (Import and Export) (Commerce) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (No. 15), the instrument was gazetted on March 25, 2026.

For entrepreneurs involved in importing, this is not merely another government notice to be filed away and forgotten.

It affects what may be imported, the documents required, the cost of applying for a licence and the consequences of non-compliance.

Its most important business lesson is that compliance must begin before goods are purchased.

Many traders do the opposite by identifying products, negotiating with foreign suppliers, making payment and arranging transport before asking whether import licences are required.

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Under the new regulatory framework, that approach can become extremely costly.

An importer may pay for goods in South Africa, China, Botswana, Zambia or elsewhere, only to discover that the consignment requires a licence or does not qualify for entry into Zimbabwe.

By that stage, the business may already have incurred the purchase price, transport charges, insurance, storage costs and clearing expenses. If the goods cannot enter the country, the trader may also bear the cost of returning them to their country of origin.

SI 59 of 2026 consolidates and replaces several earlier instruments governing import and export licensing. This is helpful because businesses previously had to navigate numerous amendments issued over several years, but consolidating the rules into one instrument does not make importing automatic.

The instrument lists a wide range of goods requiring import licences. These include specified agricultural products and foodstuffs, school uniforms, socks, furniture, steel kitchen units, cement products, pharmaceuticals, footwear, packaging materials and other manufactured goods identified by their tariff codes.

This is important because customs authorities do not necessarily classify goods according to the informal descriptions commonly used by traders.

A businessperson may describe a product simply as milk, shoes, furniture, medicine or packaging, while its precise description and tariff classification will determine whether a licence is required.

A difference in composition, packaging, intended use or tariff code may change the regulatory treatment of a product. Importers should, therefore, establish the correct tariff code before placing an order because guessing the classification of goods is not a sustainable business strategy.

A competent clearing agent may assist in determining the correct classification and preparing the necessary customs documents.

However, the importer remains responsible for understanding the transaction because delegating customs work does not completely transfer the commercial risk.

The instrument introduces a non-refundable import-licence application fee of US$100, or the equivalent in local currency at the prevailing interbank exchange rate.

The word “application” is significant because payment of the fee does not guarantee that a licence will be granted.

The US$100 is the cost of having an application considered and is not refundable if the application is unsuccessful.

An importer dealing in different categories of products may also be required to submit separate applications, making the cumulative compliance cost significant for small businesses operating on narrow profit margins.

The secretary for Industry and Commerce may reject an application where the goods do not meet national quality or safety standards.

An application may also be rejected where the proposed importation is considered prejudicial to Zimbabwe’s economic interests or where the applicant previously contravened the regulations.

This means that an importer’s regulatory history can affect future business.

A trader who makes false declarations, misuses a permit or repeatedly imports restricted goods may not only face consequences concerning the immediate consignment, but previous misconduct may also compromise future applications.

Compliance is, therefore, not merely about getting one shipment through the border. It is about building a credible and trustworthy record as an importer capable of supporting the long-term survival of the enterprise.

The application requirements also encourage business formalisation. A company applying for a licence must submit supporting documents, including its certificate of incorporation, company particulars, a valid tax clearance certificate, proof relating to the Standards Development Fund levy and a pro forma invoice.

The application must disclose the product description, tariff code, quantity, unit price, total value and country of origin. The applicant may also be required to demonstrate that the goods cannot be sourced locally.

These requirements reflect the broader economic policy behind the instrument.

Government intends to regulate imports while promoting domestic production, preserving foreign currency and protecting local industry.

Zimbabwe needs factories, employment, functioning value chains and locally manufactured products capable of competing with imports. No country can sustainably import almost everything it consumes while exporting too little.

However, import controls must be administered efficiently, consistently and predictably.

Local industry benefits from protection only when it can produce sufficient quantities, maintain acceptable quality and supply the market at competitive prices.

Where local production cannot meet demand, delays in approving necessary imports may result in shortages and price increases. A careful balance must, therefore, be maintained between protecting domestic industry and ensuring that consumers and businesses have access to essential products.

One of the most important provisions of SI 59 concerns second-hand motor vehicles.

The instrument prohibits the importation of specified second-hand vehicles aged 10 years and above from their date of manufacture.

A vehicle imported in contravention of the restriction must be re-exported at the owner’s expense.

If it is not re-exported within 60 days, it may be forfeited to the State, subject to the provisions of the Customs and Excise Act.

For motor vehicle dealers, this creates an urgent need for proper due diligence.

A trader should not rely only on the year in which a vehicle was first registered, advertised or purchased because the instrument refers specifically to its date of manufacture.

Before making payment, the importer should verify the chassis details, manufacturing records, export certificate and all documents relevant to the vehicle’s age.

Limited exemptions apply to certain inherited vehicles, qualifying immigrants, returning diplomats and vintage vehicles, but commercial dealers should not treat these exceptions as general loopholes.

The instrument also prohibits the importation of second-hand clothing except where a valid permit has been obtained for charitable purposes and the prescribed conditions are satisfied.

The importation of second-hand undergarments is prohibited under all circumstances.

This restriction will affect traders whose businesses depend on imported second-hand clothes.

They must distinguish between goods imported for genuine charitable distribution and those intended for commercial resale because a charitable permit cannot lawfully be converted into a commercial trading licence.

The instrument further provides limited personal-use exemptions for specified quantities of certain basic commodities imported once per calendar month.

These include limited quantities of cooking oil, sugar, cereals, jam, peanut butter, margarine, soap, washing powder, blankets, cotton fabric and certain body creams or petroleum jellies.

These exemptions are intended for individuals importing goods for personal use and are not permission to operate an unlicensed commercial enterprise.

A trader cannot lawfully disguise commercial stock as personal luggage by dividing one consignment among several people.

The regulations also carry criminal consequences for non-compliance. A person who imports or exports goods in contravention of the regulations, makes a false statement in a licence application or sells a licence or permit commits an offence.

The penalty may include a fine not exceeding level 12, imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year, or both.

Importers must understand that a licence is not a commodity that can be purchased from another trader because it is issued to a particular applicant for an authorised transaction and remains subject to stipulated conditions.

Importers must also reconsider how they calculate their prices. The true cost of an imported product is not merely the supplier’s price, but includes transport, insurance, duty, taxes, licence application fees, clearing charges, storage, currency movements and the risk of administrative delays.

A trader who ignores these costs may appear profitable when ordering goods but discover after importation that the selling price does not recover the full investment.

Proper costing should, therefore, take place before an order is confirmed rather than after the goods have entered Zimbabwe.

Before importing, every businessperson should determine whether the product requires a licence, establish its correct tariff code and confirm that it meets Zimbabwean quality and safety standards.

The importer must also establish whether the product can be sourced locally, prepare the required documents and secure the necessary approval before shipment.

These are not questions to ask when the truck is already at Beitbridge Border Post.

They must be answered before money leaves the importer’s account and before the foreign supplier dispatches the goods.

SI 59 of 2026 presents both challenges and opportunities for Zimbabwean businesses.

For importers, it increases the importance of preparation, accurate documentation and regulatory compliance, while for local manufacturers, it may create opportunities to produce goods previously sourced outside Zimbabwe.

For entrepreneurs generally, the instrument demonstrates that changes in law and government policy can alter a business model almost overnight.

Successful businesspeople must, therefore, monitor not only their customers and competitors, but also the regulatory environment in which they operate.

An importer who understands the law can plan, price and trade with greater confidence. One who ignores it may lose goods, money and eventually the business itself.

The message of SI 59 of 2026 is clear: before you purchase, before you pay and before you ship, verify. In the modern import business, compliance is not an administrative exercise conducted after the transaction; it is part of the transaction.

*Dr Believe Guta is an entrepreneur, author, public intellectual and investment strategist. He writes in his personal capacity.