The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has advised that importers of goods whose duties are ordinarily payable in local currency now have the option to pay duty in foreign currency. In a notice seen by Pindula News, ZIMWA said the development was made possible by the amendment of section 115 of the Customs and Excise Act (Chapter 23:02) following the promulgation of Finance Act No 8 of 2022. Reads the notice:
PUBLIC NOTICE: PAYMENT OF DUTY IN FOREIGN CURRENCY ON NON-DESIGNATED GOODS
The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) wishes to advise all valued clients that following the promulgation of Finance Act No 8 of 2022, section 115 of the Customs and Excise Act (Chapter 23:02) has been amended to give importers of non-designated goods (whose duties are ordinarily payable in local currency) an option to pay duty in foreign currency.
Currently, our system is being configured to register declarations (bills of entry) that enable payment of duty on non-designated goods in foreign currency. In the meantime, while our ICT department is working on configuration of our ASYCUDA system, the following measures have been taken to assist clients and to facilitate trade:
Clearance of consignments of non-designated goods for which importers opt to pay duty in foreign currency shall be done through lodgment of manual bills of entry and the following procedure shall be adopted.
• The importer or clearing agent shall apply to the Shift Manager/Station Manager to lodge a manual bill of entry.
• When authority to lodge the manual bill entry has been granted, the importer or clearing agent shall submit the manual bill of entry and supporting documents for processing in the usual manner.
NB: Please note that this is a temporary measure meant to facilitate trade that will end upon successful configuration of the system.