HARARE – The government has suspended customs duty on public service bus imports, backdated to January 1 this year, in a move aimed at easing commuter transport challenges and modernising the country’s public transit fleet.
Finance minister Mthuli Ncube said the move would “lower commuting costs, and modernise the fleet by reducing import costs for operators.”
The duty suspension was gazetted through Statutory Instrument 74 of 2026, cited as the Customs and Excise Act (Suspension) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (No. 286).
Under the facility, duty suspension applies only to approved importers recommended by the secretary for transport and infrastructural development on a case-by-case basis.
Qualifying operators must be registered under the Road Motor Transportation Act and must furnish the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Commissioner with a written authority from the transport secretary specifying the approved importer’s name and the make, model, engine and chassis number of the bus to be imported.
Operators must also provide a valid tax clearance certificate and proof of payment of income tax for the previous fiscal year.
Buses imported under the suspension must be used exclusively for public transportation and cannot be disposed of within five years of importation without the ZIMRA commissioner’s written authority or payment of the suspended duty.
ZIMRA, in consultation with the transport minister, is empowered to recover suspended duty and impose penalties on any approved importer found to be charging unreasonable fares or using vehicles for purposes other than those for which the suspension was granted.
Zimbabwe Passenger Transport Organisation chairman Samson Nhanhanga said: “As bus operators, we welcome the suspension of duty on buses, which will not only ease transport challenges, but also reduce fares.
“We are bringing in a huge number of buses to replenish our fleet. It is a huge relief for us since we will be able to satisfy the requirements of our market.”
