HARARE – The government has permitted returning residents who are holders of expiring Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) in South Africa to bring their goods into the country duty-free.
In a statement, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) outlined the portfolio of importable goods covered by the dispensation.
“Personal goods are goods that the returning resident has been using, for example, clothes, furniture, kitchen utensils and other general household goods,” ZIMRA said.
There are more than 170,000 Zimbabweans sitting on exemption permits in South Africa.
Lately, South African authorities have been haggling over the need to scrap the permits, something that could see a huge influx of Zimbabweans cross the Limpopo back to their homeland.
In terms of vehicles, ZIMRA said such property should have been pre-owned at least six months before returning into the country.
“Vehicles are to be cleared under the suspension of duty as provided for in Statutory Instrument 10 of 2022, which has the following conditions: only VAT is payable, the vehicle should have been owned by the returning resident six months prior to returning to Zimbabwe and value of the vehicle must be less than US$40 000,” said the tax collector.
Agricultural products such as grain, cattle and goats will be brought into the country using permits from the Ministry of Agriculture.
“The goods must have been owned by the returning resident at the time of his arrival and at the time of their importation, goods must be for use in Zimbabwe by the returning resident and the goods must be imported at the time of arrival of the returning resident or at such time as the Commissioner may, in his discretion approve,” said ZIMRA.
Pre-owned goods of a capital or commercial nature, which were being used by the ZEP holder for business, are to be imported duty free and these include computers, furniture, equipment that was being used for business.
In order to be considered for this rebate of duty, the returnee must present a copy of the ZEP permit and proof that one has terminated contract of employment for a person who has been on a contract of employment.
In June this year, South Africa extended the deadline for holders of Zimbabwean Exemption Permits to 31 December 2023.
The ZEP was implemented as a way to provide amnesty to Zimbabwean nationals with fraudulently obtained immigration documents and prevent their deportation.
Zimbabwean nationals who hold ZEPS must secure a different visa by 31 December 2023 in order to stay in South Africa legally unless extended.
