News / Regional
WATCH: Beitbridge drama as Zimra starts confiscating imports
20 Jun 2016 at 16:09hrs | Views
Riot police was reportedly called in at Beitbridge border at the weekend after protests by travellers over random confiscation of items.
It is understood that Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials have intensified search and confiscation on goods.
Officials claim that the goods are under banned import item list.
This angered travellers on Sunday.
.
"It was chaotic on Saturday and Sunday morning at the border post
"Travellers got fed up with Zimra people confiscating various food items.
"The situation became tense and officials ended up calling riot police" a cross border trader, Fiona Mabanda told Bulawayo24.com.
Added Monica Nxumalo "Zimra people are in a habit of confiscating items without any explanation.
'If you ask for documentation of you items they became aggressive which points to the fact that one would be exposing their corrupt tendencies.
" On Sunday riot police was called in to calm tempers".
Last week government put in place stringent regulations meant to control the importation of goods that are available locally.
The goods that have been literally banned include coffee creamers (Cremora), Camphor creams, white petroleum jellies and body creams.
The long list also includes furniture, baked beans and potato crisps, cereals, bottled water, mayonnaise, salad cream, peanut butter, jams, maheu, canned fruits and vegetables, pizza base, yoghurts, flavoured milks, dairy juice blends,
ice-creams, cultured milk and cheese.
It is understood that Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials have intensified search and confiscation on goods.
Officials claim that the goods are under banned import item list.
This angered travellers on Sunday.
.
"It was chaotic on Saturday and Sunday morning at the border post
"Travellers got fed up with Zimra people confiscating various food items.
"The situation became tense and officials ended up calling riot police" a cross border trader, Fiona Mabanda told Bulawayo24.com.
Added Monica Nxumalo "Zimra people are in a habit of confiscating items without any explanation.
'If you ask for documentation of you items they became aggressive which points to the fact that one would be exposing their corrupt tendencies.
" On Sunday riot police was called in to calm tempers".
Last week government put in place stringent regulations meant to control the importation of goods that are available locally.
The goods that have been literally banned include coffee creamers (Cremora), Camphor creams, white petroleum jellies and body creams.
The long list also includes furniture, baked beans and potato crisps, cereals, bottled water, mayonnaise, salad cream, peanut butter, jams, maheu, canned fruits and vegetables, pizza base, yoghurts, flavoured milks, dairy juice blends,
ice-creams, cultured milk and cheese.
Source - Byo24News
