Correspondent|THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has backed off from insisting duty in forex, saying that importers of motor vehicles and other goods can now pay for their duty in RTGS, bond notes and other usual options. This comes as a major relief especially to car importers, the majority of whom were stranded at the ports of entry since Friday.

However, the relief only applies to importers who paid for the cars or whatever goods or before November 22, 2018, ZIMRA emphasized.

The revenue collector said individuals who imported vehicles on or before November 22, and whose cars are scheduled to arrive in Zimbabwe on or before January 3, 2019 can also pay duty through RTGS, bond notes or foreign currency.

On Thursday, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said payment of motor vehicle duty in foreign currency would be mandatory from midnight last Friday.

In a statement yesterday Zimra said, “The payment of duty in foreign currency applies to any person or company importing goods designated as foreign currency dutiable that were purchased after the 22nd of November 2018;

“Goods purchased on or before 22nd November 2018 and consigned for export to Zimbabwe on or before 3rd January 2019; (and) motor vehicles imported under suspension of duty for use by physically handicapped persons.”

About 300 second-hand vehicles arrive at Beitbridge Border Post daily, with around 200 import entries are processed daily.

Zimbabweans spend roughly U$500 million on vehicle imports annually.