Zimbabwe offers duty-free relief for returnees fleeing Xenophobia in SA

Zimbabwean nationals returning home from South Africa amid renewed anti-immigrant tensions will be allowed to import personal belongings, household goods and one motor vehicle duty-free under a special immigrants rebate scheme approved by the government.

The measure comes as anti-immigrant groups in South Africa continue to intensify pressure on undocumented foreign nationals, with some organisations issuing an unauthorised ultimatum demanding that foreigners leave the country by June 30, 2026.

Details of the concession are contained in a letter from Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Ministry permanent secretary George Guvamatanga to Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) Commissioner Regina Chinamasa.

According to Guvamatanga, the facility is specifically aimed at assisting holders of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) who are returning home after years of living and working in South Africa.

"The facility would cater for only one motor vehicle imported by a Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holder," Guvamatanga wrote.

He explained that while customs duty on qualifying vehicles would be suspended, value-added tax (VAT) would still be payable.

"All motor vehicles would be cleared under suspension of duty, whereby VAT would remain payable. ZIMRA would apply flexible valuation terms to ensure that the VAT payable on the vehicles would be minimal," he said.

The Treasury chief added that returnees importing vehicles older than 10 years would not be required to obtain import permits.

However, the concession applies only to vehicles purchased before the expiry of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit programme, which ended in December 2022.

The rebate also extends to personal belongings, household goods and certain commercial equipment used by returnees in their businesses.

"Rebate of duty would apply on personal and household property, as well as property of a commercial nature, which presumably the returnees would have been using in their businesses," Guvamatanga said.

"The exempted property would have been purchased prior to the expiry of the ZEPs, that is, prior to 31 December 2022."

Government has also introduced flexibility regarding the arrival dates of returning residents to allow those who may have returned earlier sufficient time to clear their goods through customs.

"There would be flexibility with respect to time of arrival in order to accord residents who returned by December 2022 ample time to clear their goods," the letter states.

Authorities have, however, stressed that safeguards will be implemented to prevent abuse of the facility.

"This is subject to the appropriate evaluation in order to limit potential abuse of the facility by non-qualifying returning residents. Furthermore, the facility will not apply to new items," Guvamatanga said.

He added that beneficiaries would still be required to satisfy standard immigrant rebate conditions, including proving prior ownership of the motor vehicle being imported.

The concession is expected to provide significant relief to Zimbabweans considering a return home amid growing uncertainty in South Africa, where fears of xenophobic violence and immigration-related tensions have prompted some foreign nationals to seek repatriation.

Government officials say the rebate is intended to ease the reintegration process by allowing returnees to bring back assets accumulated during their years abroad without facing prohibitive import duties.