Pre-Shipment Inspections introduced in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's open door policy on imports comes to an end on 16th May 2015 when the Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) Programme comes into effect.

The Government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Industry and Commerce has appointed Bureau Veritas, a global agent to Test, Inspect and Certify cargo worldwide under this programme. Any cargo being exported to Zimbabwe after 16th May 2015 will therefore be subjected to a pre-shipment inspection which will also determine its value and this value will be binding on customs authorities at the port of entry.

To date, Zimbabwe has been accepting all sorts of imports without questioning their quality, safety, environmental and other risks. This has led to various challenges leading to this intervention.

With the emergence and growth of technology, the world has become one big market place where people and organisations successfully transact online. Money exchanges hands on the basis of a mere advert and, in most cases condition of the products cannot be assessed beyond the images/pictures provided.

In some cases, people in Zimbabwe have entrusted agents, friends and/or relatives in the source countries to purchase products on their behalf. Those entrusted with this assignment might not have a clue whatsoever of what they are looking for, hence end up buying a wrong or poor quality product and, most likely at an inflated price.

It is only upon arrival in Zimbabwe that the product can then be assessed but it will be too late to re-negotiate and/or intervene as the transaction would have been concluded way before. In the case of some cars/machinery/equipment, they even cannot drive to the port for export and the Zimbabwean buyer has to recover them at an extra cost. Neighbouring Botswana has had to ban driving of vehicles in transit partly to reduce hazards caused by unroadworthy vehicles.

The other challenge that Zimbabwean importers have been facing is the rigmarole of dealing with the Customs authorities once their consignments arrived at a port of entry. The process left the importer vulnerable to whims of the Customs officer assessing their cargo. The Officer's decision to accept or uplift the declared values has, in some cases been a function of the Importer's willingness or unwillingness to incentivise the process through corrupt means, (read bribe!) hence robbing the fiscus of the much needed revenue, and also potentially exposing the Importer to a risk of loss through unaffordable Customs duty.      

It is therefore against such a background that the Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) Programme is being implemented. It is designed to mitigate against most of the challenges highlighted above.

1.    Through CBCA, a Zimbabwean buyer/importer is EMPOWERED to receive a quality product without having to sound 'awkward' or appearing sceptical to the seller. The importer is protected at law to demand Testing, Inspection & Certification before a sale is agreed.

2.    This Pre-Shipment Certificate will validate the condition of the consignment as well as indicate an impartial market value of it in the source market.

3.    This certified value will be binding on the Zimbabwe Customs Authority enabling the Importer to plan/budget for Customs duty more reliably whilst the consignment is enroute.

4.    Through CBCA Programme, the Zimbabwe Government will minimise revenue leakages in the system and, shake-off the 'Junk-Yard' status the country was increasing becoming associated with by bringing it into alignment with international environmental assessment standards.

• Products that fall under the following categories will be subject to this process:
• Food and Agriculture
• Building products
• Timber and timber products
• Petroleum and fuel
• Packaging material
• Electrical/electronic products
• Body care and health products
• Automotive and transportation
• Clothing and textile
• Engineering equipment
• Toys

Anyone exporting to ZIMBABWE cargo that falls into any of those categories after 16th May 2015, is encouraged to liaise with their Freight Forwarder or Clearing Agent before shipment to avoid complications and/or losses as a result of non-compliance.

This Programme offers a much needed and impartial win-win solution. It is a welcome development and, benefits most constituencies of the population.  

For regular exporters to Zimbabwe in the United Kingdom, a seminar to explain this programme has been arranged for Tuesday May 12th 2015 in Central London.


Fungwa Mawarire is a Director of Zimtownship Global Services Limited based in the United Kingdom. He can be contacted through info@zimtownship.co.uk