Second-hand cars importers fleeced

Zimbabweans importing mostly second-hand cars from Japan and other countries are being systematically ripped off of their hard-earned money through payment of duty that requires kickbacks at the country's Chirundu and Beitbridge border posts.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) stopped accepting cash payments of duty for imported vehicles through their cashiers in November 2013.

A Zimra notice posted at Beitbridge Border Post says: Zimra cashiers will cease to accept cash as payment of duty on all imported vehicles on November 26 2013.

Payments can only be made through the Zimra CBZ account.

However, since the cash method was stopped, a well co-ordinated scheme involving senior Zimra officials has been put in place where there are deliberate delays in processing duty payments until the bank closes for the day.

 Only a few cars are processed while the bank is open, while most clearances are done after the bank closes.

Zimra sources at the two border posts said Zimra officials are working in cahoots with a group of people referred to as "agents" at the border post who use their bank ATM cards to pay duty on behalf of car owners.