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Matabeleland South senator slams ZIMRA forfeiture directive
24 mins ago |
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HARARE - Matabeleland South Senator Nonhlanhla Mlotshwa has raised alarm in Parliament over a new directive by the Treasury and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) imposing automatic and permanent forfeiture of goods deemed smuggled, with no option to pay duty or regularise compliance.
Mlotshwa said the measure has far‑reaching consequences for ordinary Zimbabweans, traders and the integrity of governance systems.
Her remarks follow earlier concerns about an unlawful ZIMRA checkpoint in Gwanda, where travellers were forced to disembark and offload luggage for inspection, sparking public outrage.
"My point of national interest is a response to the ZIMRA crackdown and the directive that ZIMRA has given to the citizens. I rise on a matter of urgent national importance concerning the new directive from Treasury and ZIMRA, which imposes automatic and permanent forfeiture of goods deemed smuggled, with no option to pay duty or to regularise compliance," Mlotshwa said.
She argued the directive introduces an excessively punitive regime that risks criminalising citizens instead of addressing inefficiencies at border posts. Small traders, women cross‑border entrepreneurs and travellers making innocent documentation errors now face permanent loss of goods without recourse.
Mlotshwa further criticised the directive for bypassing Parliament, saying such a major policy shift should come through legislative or statutory processes.
"Parliament is being reduced to a mere spectator while executive instructions alter people's lives. This is inconsistent with our constitutional role of oversight and law‑making," she said.
She also questioned the constitutional basis of the directive, citing Section 68 of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to fair administrative conduct.
Mlotshwa warned that ZIMRA's relentless checkpoints have effectively turned towns such as Gwanda into quasi‑border posts, increasing opportunities for harassment, extortion and abuse of authority.
She urged the Minister of Finance to explain the constitutional foundation of the directive, why Parliament was excluded, and what safeguards exist to protect citizens.
"Zimbabwe needs new systems at work, not systems that punish the citizens," she said.
Mlotshwa said the measure has far‑reaching consequences for ordinary Zimbabweans, traders and the integrity of governance systems.
Her remarks follow earlier concerns about an unlawful ZIMRA checkpoint in Gwanda, where travellers were forced to disembark and offload luggage for inspection, sparking public outrage.
"My point of national interest is a response to the ZIMRA crackdown and the directive that ZIMRA has given to the citizens. I rise on a matter of urgent national importance concerning the new directive from Treasury and ZIMRA, which imposes automatic and permanent forfeiture of goods deemed smuggled, with no option to pay duty or to regularise compliance," Mlotshwa said.
She argued the directive introduces an excessively punitive regime that risks criminalising citizens instead of addressing inefficiencies at border posts. Small traders, women cross‑border entrepreneurs and travellers making innocent documentation errors now face permanent loss of goods without recourse.
"Parliament is being reduced to a mere spectator while executive instructions alter people's lives. This is inconsistent with our constitutional role of oversight and law‑making," she said.
She also questioned the constitutional basis of the directive, citing Section 68 of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to fair administrative conduct.
Mlotshwa warned that ZIMRA's relentless checkpoints have effectively turned towns such as Gwanda into quasi‑border posts, increasing opportunities for harassment, extortion and abuse of authority.
She urged the Minister of Finance to explain the constitutional foundation of the directive, why Parliament was excluded, and what safeguards exist to protect citizens.
"Zimbabwe needs new systems at work, not systems that punish the citizens," she said.
Source - Byo24News
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