HARARE: Zimbabwe has launched a new search program at Beitbridge border to tighten its watch on cross border smuggling.
These new measures are meant to curb menace of smuggling in South African goods into Zimbabwe and to increase revenue for the government.
The state-run Chronicle quoted officials at the border post as saying three customs officers will now be tasked with searching each and every bus, that’s up from one official per bus at the moment.
Their main target is cross-border traders who are accused of smuggling through South African groceries and even electrical goods like fridges and stoves without paying duty.
The Chronicle says Zimbabwe raises up to $60 million per month from duties charged at Beitbridge.
But government coffers are tightly squeezed and this looks like an attempt to plug even the smallest potential revenue leakages.
