By Terrence Mawawa|The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority(ZIMRA), has “attacked travellers” once again increasing the duty fees for imported goods as the broke government seeks to raise money to pay civil servants.
Sources in the parastatal told ZimEye.com yesterday the travellers’ rebate and the daily remission of duty have been drastically reduced meaning travellers have to part with a lot of money to have their goods cleared at Beitbridge border post.
Sources at Beitbridge disclosed to ZimEye.com, there was no time to notify travellers because the government was in desperate need to boost its coffers to pay civil servants.
It is understood the government now solely depends on Zimra for revenue collection and payment of civil servants.
“The duty free allowance -travellers’ rebate has been reduced to $ 200 from $300 per calendar month-meaning those travelling from South Africa have to fork out extra money for payment of duty. Same day travellers used to bring in $50 dollars worth of duty free goods but the duty free fee has also been reduced to just $10 dollars. The daily remission of duty has therefore been drastically reduced,” said a ZIMRA official at Beitbridge border post.
Informal transporters known as malayichas have also been affected since they are now expected to pay for the goods they transport under commercial importation and in turn they will also increase their charges, it has emerged.
The raft of changes introduced by Zimra are set to negatively affect travellers as government desperately seeks to boost its virtually dry coffers in order to pay civil servants.
Sources also said all goods previously classified as duty free commodities would now be taxed by the parastatal in a desperate bid to increase cash inflow.
“Almost everything will be taxed in some way. We are being issued with directives so there is nothing we can do about,” said the source.