Zimbabwe widens second-hand car import ban

The Government has widened restrictions on the importation of second-hand motor vehicles under Statutory Instrument 59 of 2026, extending the ban to cover a broader range of vehicles aged 10 years or older from the date of manufacture.

The regulations, issued under the Control of Goods Act, were gazetted by Minister of Industry and Commerce Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu.

Under the new rules, vehicles designed to carry 10 or more passengers are now included in the prohibition, alongside various categories of passenger and goods transport vehicles such as station wagons, racing cars, and certain double-cab models.

The instrument states that second-hand vehicles aged 10 years and above "shall not be imported," regardless of ongoing administrative processes with other regulatory bodies.

It further provides that any vehicle imported in violation of the ban must be re-exported at the owner's expense, with failure to do so within 60 days resulting in forfeiture to the State under the Customs and Excise Act.

Minister Ndlovu said no import licence will be issued for vehicles falling within the restricted categories, reinforcing the Government's intention to tighten enforcement and close loopholes.

However, the regulations outline exemptions for specific cases, including vehicles inherited through deceased estates, those belonging to returning diplomats, and officially recognised vintage vehicles under the Vehicle Registration and Licensing framework.

The policy forms part of broader efforts to modernise Zimbabwe's import control system, strengthen local industry protection, and reduce the influx of older vehicles into the domestic market.