Zimbabwe targets smuggling with new customs regulations
HARARE – Businesses found with certain goods without proof of duty payment will now be deemed to have smuggled them under new customs regulations introduced by Zimbabwean authorities.
The Customs and Excise (Designated Deemed Smuggled Goods) Regulations, 2025 list 19 categories of goods, including alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, cement, clothing, footwear, dairy products, electrical appliances, motor spares, and detergents.
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) requires manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and individuals to provide clearance documents for these goods. Violators will face duty payments and penalties as the government intensifies efforts to combat smuggling.
The crackdown comes as rampant smuggling has caused significant havoc in Zimbabwe’s economy, undercutting local manufacturers, driving unfair competition, and depriving the government of critical revenue needed for public services.
