If your car crossed the borders of Zimbabwe before the 2nd of April, then you do not need a permit from Ministry of Industry and Commence because the time of importation, according to the law i.e. section 37 of the Customs and Excise Act [Chapter 23.02],
Time of importation
(1) With the exception of goods imported by post, the time of importation of any goods into Zimbabwe shall be deemed to be—
(e) Where goods are imported by means other than ships, aircraft, trains or pipeline, the time when the goods cross the borders of Zimbabwe.
So if your vehicle crossed before the 2nd of April, you do not need a licence but if the goods crossed after the 2nd then licence is required, failure of which will result in the payment of level 12 fine of ZWL 800 000.00 regardless of whether duty was paid or not.
Please note if duty was already paid according to the new preclearance system then DO NOT bring the vehicle into Zimbabwe before production of an import permit. Apply to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce first and then bring it into Zimbabwe. Payment of duty does not take away the need for an import licence.
You can use our free vehicle duty calculator tool to estimate the customs duties
One reply on “Second Hand Cars in Zimbabwe: Implications of Statutory Instrument 89 of 2021”
[…] have set guidelines to be followed for one to be exempted from the production of a licence for importing cars which are more than 10 years old following the promulgation of Statutory Instrument 89 of […]