Hundreds of travellers, mainly cross-border traders and shoppers, were reportedly stranded in Beitbridge after bus operators withdrew services to avoid having their buses impounded in a government operation targeting smuggled goods.
<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200035872/hundreds-stranded-as-beitbridge-route-buses-withdraw-services">NewsDay</a> reported that several buses have been seized, and operators face fines of up to US$60,000 for transporting suspected contraband. The operation is part of efforts to clamp down on smuggling.
Between 120 (off-peak) and 220 (peak), buses typically pass through Beitbridge daily, with the number of travellers increasing during the festive season.
Some buses were offloading passengers and stopping operations after their vehicles were targeted in the crackdown.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube recently announced new measures to combat smuggling, empowering the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) to seize goods without proof of customs duty payment.
This includes raiding tuckshops and other outlets selling smuggled goods.
Following the announcement, security forces set up roadblocks and checkpoints around the border town to stop vehicles carrying goods without proper documentation, redirecting them to customs yards.
The crackdown extends beyond Beitbridge, with reports of buses and trucks being detained in various towns, including Masvingo, Harare, Chinhoyi, Bulawayo, and Mutare, as part of the intensified enforcement of the new directive.
A woman caught up in the swoop told NewsDay in an interview on Thursday that their bus was ordered to return to Beitbridge. She said:
We were ordered to return to the border post by a team which stopped us about 30km out of Beitbridge. We were escorted to the border post, where thorough searches were conducted on buses.
Several buses were stuck at Beitbridge, with goods being offloaded into Customs warehouses as part of the ongoing crackdown on smuggling.
A wide range of goods are being targeted, including essentials like rice, sugar, dairy products, clothing, tyres, electrical appliances, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cement, motor spare parts, and detergents.
ZIMRA at Beitbridge has hired dozens of casual workers to help offload and pack seized goods from travellers.
At the Dulivhadzimo bus terminus, many buses offloaded passengers and luggage, with some buses not leaving due to the smuggling crackdown.
The buses typically transport both passengers and contraband, much of which is smuggled across the Limpopo River.
According to a Beitbridge Municipal police officer at the terminus, not a single bus departed from Beitbridge on Wednesday, a highly unusual situation for the busy border post.
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Hundreds of people, like traders and shoppers, were stuck in Beitbridge because buses stopped running to avoid getting in trouble with the government. The government is trying to stop smuggling and has already seized many buses. The Finance Minister announced new rules to stop smuggling, and now security forces are checking vehicles for goods without the right papers. This crackdown is not only in Beitbridge but also in other towns. Many buses were stuck in Beitbridge with goods being taken away by customs. The crackdown is on goods like food, clothes, electronics, and more. Many buses were not able to leave because of the smuggling crackdown.

Government Crackdown On Smuggling Leaves Hundreds Stranded In Beitbridge

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) on Wednesday doubled the amount of foreign currency in cash someone can physically carry on their person or in their baggage out of the country to US$10 000, reported <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/travellers-can-now-take-out-us10-000-cash/">The Herald</a>.
RBZ Governor John Panonetsa Mangudya announced the new cash limit in a Statutory Instrument made in terms of the Exchange Control Act.
The US$10 000 limit in baggage or pocket can be cash in any foreign currency, gold coins, or in any desired combination of foreign currencies or gold coins.
Travellers can also take out the equivalent of US$1 000 at the interbank rate in “demonitised” Zimbabwean notes and coins.
According to the new regulations, anyone intending to carry more than US$10 000 in notes and coins, rather than making electronic transfers, requires exchange control approval.
However, diplomats are not subject to these limits.
An economic commentator, Prosper Chitambara, said the new regulations are a welcome development. He said:
<blockquote>
It is an improvement from the US$5 000 that was there before and it’s meant to relax capital controls in terms of the export of cash.
It’s critical in terms of engendering greater levels of confidence within the economy.
The more relaxed the control, the greater improvement in confidence in the economy.
</blockquote>
However, Harare-based economist Gift Mugano argued that the legal instrument will result in more foreign currency being taken out of the country. Said Mugano:
<blockquote>
It does not stimulate economic growth but rather will expedite the draining of foreign currency from the country.
The net effect of this is a liquidity crunch particularly now since we are now dollarised.
You are aware that we have a large informal sector and by increasing the amount of money that can be taken out of the country to US$10 000, we have really taken a position to take oxygen out of our system.
The most important exchange controls which must be dealt with relate to export retention and liberalisation of the exchange rate.
Increasing foreign currency which can be taken out is merely draining oxygen from our system.
</blockquote>
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