Zimbabwe Government inducing pain on citizens at Border posts.

Mthwakazi Republic Party has said it has come to our attention that the Ministry of Industry and commerce in  conjunction with Zimbabwe revenue Authority "Zimra" and other government  department are fleecing our people thousands of dollars unnecessarily.

Party spokesperson Mbonisi Gumbo said the  Zimbabwe Government is causing untold suffering to cross border traders and  other citizens who would have travelled outside the country on return.

"Coming back into the country from a visit is now a scary thing.  he MRP information department yesterday asked citizens to share their experiences at the hands of Zimra and the response was overwhelming on both whatsapp and Facebook," he said.  

"Ministry of Industry and Commerce – According to the new statutory  instrument 64 which prohibits importation of certain goods into the country, one has to obtain a so called import license at a cost of $30-00 valid for only one trip which also forbids you from importing certain
products. Most ordinary citizens are not aware of this process they end up being victims of this unnecessary procedure."

He said when one brings in  goods without this license Zimra automatically confiscate those products to their warehouse and one pays for storage per day per item until you collect.

"Once your goods are confiscated you are then asked to go either to Harare or Bulawayo "EMhlahlandlela" to the  Ministry of Industry and commerce to buy the license, before going back to the border to pay duty and storage fees. That process only applies to certain products, which means if for example you had building materials they confiscate them without compensation and becomes of the state yet there is no proper documentation in process," he said.

"Therefore there is no guarantee that those goods confiscated at the border will actually reach the state without those Zimra officials working in cahoots with state security at the border illegally benefiting. Citizens mostly from Matabeleland who spoke to MRP said the government should with immediate effect transfer the issuance of those import licenses
from Harare and Bulawayo to the border posts to allow a one stop border facilitation everything should be done at the border."

He said the government must continuously update citizens through the media billboards and any necessary methods possible any information pertaining border processes.

"The government must understand that ordinary citizens are struggling because the economy is bad. The cost of travelling to either Bulawayo or Harare just to get a so called import license and back to the border to collect your goods, which you would have initially paid for to transport is unnecessary and a total worst of citizens hard earned resources. Why not do everything at the border?  Government must understand that it's not everyone who imports goods for sale, and it's not everyone who have access to information," he said.

"It is certainly not everyone who lives in Harare or Bulawayo, there are people who stay in
Victoria Falls, Hwange, Plumtree, Tsholotsho and have no accommodation in Bulawayo. So when you confiscate their goods at BeitBridge see how much pain and inconvenience you are causing to innocent citizens?"

Gumbo said citizens complained bitterly that only Shona people are manning all our border posts. Zimra and immigration officials' especially at Beitbridge border post are some of the worst tribalists Zimbabwe has.

"Most of Harare bound buses cross the border with undeclared goods yet Bulawayo bound buses are searched sometimes twice and our people are made to pay hefty bribes in order to gain their freedom to travel home safely.  Zimbabwe Republic Police officers are also doubling up as Immigration and  Zimra officials. Is it in the police's jurisdiction of work to ask travelers to produce passports and proof of declarations on high ways far from the border? Are they insinuating that they don't trust Zimra and  immigration officials at the border? A trip from Jo'burg to Bulawayo normally take between 8 to 12 hours is now made to take up to 18 to 24
hours because of many unnecessary road blocks," he said.

"Our people also complained that the R320-00 being charged for illegal cross borders is too much and fuels corruption at the border. Ordinary People don't have such kind of money, they end up opting in bribing officials from R50 to R150 half the price of the official fine. Since the Zimbabwean government is guilty of sending its citizens to other countries because of
human Rights abuse and mismanagement in the country, returnees must either pay R100 fine or better still freely come back to their country."

He said MRP takes serious people's concerns and very soon we may be forced to
demonstrate against all this illegal activities of a clueless government, destroying people's dreams and future.

"The rot at the border post must be cleaned immediately. Ministry of Industry officials at Mhlahlandlela are Shona and they are supposed to save our people how do they help them? We are tired of being ruled by tribalists, Gukurahundists, and thieves. We are tired of nepotism, regionalism and corruption, we now want self-determination," he said.