The government shut down Raj Modi's liquor shop in Bulawayo. Modi works as the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce. Officials came to check his store because they're looking for smuggled items all over Zimbabwe.
People at the shop said officials showed up Saturday evening. The shop couldn't show them important papers right away. A special team that fights smuggling made them close the store. The team includes security people and tax collectors from ZIMRA.
The store sits on Fife Street, and it stayed closed through Monday morning. Modi told reporters he's okay with the closure. He said they just need to check his things.
Minister Mthuli Ncube talked about smuggling at a meeting in Bulawayo. He said smuggled stuff hurts real shops and factories. The government wants to stop items like drinks, clothes, food, and car parts from coming in illegally.
The government says these things count as smuggled unless shops prove they bought them the right way. They want to keep local companies safe. Ncube said smuggling got worse lately. That's why ZIMRA and the police need to work harder to catch people doing it.
The government bought drones to watch the border at Beitbridge. They told their teams to look everywhere for smuggled goods. They won't be nice about it just because it's holiday time.
Ncube wants shop owners to follow the rules. He says sneaking goods into Zimbabwe won't work as a business plan. The government plans to keep checking stores and stopping illegal items from coming in.
People at the shop said officials showed up Saturday evening. The shop couldn't show them important papers right away. A special team that fights smuggling made them close the store. The team includes security people and tax collectors from ZIMRA.
The store sits on Fife Street, and it stayed closed through Monday morning. Modi told reporters he's okay with the closure. He said they just need to check his things.
Minister Mthuli Ncube talked about smuggling at a meeting in Bulawayo. He said smuggled stuff hurts real shops and factories. The government wants to stop items like drinks, clothes, food, and car parts from coming in illegally.
The government says these things count as smuggled unless shops prove they bought them the right way. They want to keep local companies safe. Ncube said smuggling got worse lately. That's why ZIMRA and the police need to work harder to catch people doing it.
The government bought drones to watch the border at Beitbridge. They told their teams to look everywhere for smuggled goods. They won't be nice about it just because it's holiday time.
Ncube wants shop owners to follow the rules. He says sneaking goods into Zimbabwe won't work as a business plan. The government plans to keep checking stores and stopping illegal items from coming in.
