Zimbabwe has ordered authorities to permanently confiscate all smuggled merchandise without allowing violators any chance to settle customs fees and retrieve their property. The Finance Ministry directive, sent by Permanent Secretary George Guvamatanga to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, eliminates the previous practice of permitting importers to pay outstanding duties after detection. Under sections 188 and 193 of the Customs and Excise Act, goods whose worth exceeds the owed levies must be seized outright.
ZIMRA Commissioner General Regina Chinamasa defended the agency's extensive highway checkpoint operations, acknowledging that officers remain deployed across major transport corridors far beyond actual border crossings. The roadblocks span routes linking Beitbridge with Bulawayo and Harare, as well as the Plumtree to Harare highway, with Chinamasa citing Gwanda as one inland location where inspectors actively intercept illicit cargo. She attributed the continued enforcement sweeps to persistently high violation discovery rates.
ZIMRA Commissioner General Regina Chinamasa defended the agency's extensive highway checkpoint operations, acknowledging that officers remain deployed across major transport corridors far beyond actual border crossings. The roadblocks span routes linking Beitbridge with Bulawayo and Harare, as well as the Plumtree to Harare highway, with Chinamasa citing Gwanda as one inland location where inspectors actively intercept illicit cargo. She attributed the continued enforcement sweeps to persistently high violation discovery rates.
