Harare: Zimbabwe border officials have impounded an assortment of goods donated for Cyclone Idai victims claiming there was no documentation to support their clearance.
The incident took place on Friday night at the Beitbridge Border Post, which is one of the busiest inland ports in Sub-Saharan Africa and links the northern and southern corridors.
Despite producing sufficient documentation for the clearing of the consignment, the bus crew was ordered to off-load the goods at a government office.
The impounded goods which include clothing, blankets, sanitary ware and groceries had been dispatched from the Zimbabwean Consulate in Cape Town where they had been warehoused.
The goods donated by mainly South African based Zimbabweans and a few locals were aboard Chihwa Tours, a renowned cross-border bus company. Chihwa offered to transport the donations for free as a way of giving back to the community.
“The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officers refused to clear the goods saying that we did not have a duty free certificate,” one of the drivers told AllNetAfrica.
“We had several papers to show the goods were donated and cleared by the Zimbabwe Consulate but the Zimra would have none of it. They impounded the goods.”
Zimra spokesperson Francis Chimanda could not be reached for comment however AllNetAfrica heard the impounded goods are being kept at the local government offices in Beitbridge.
Zimbabwe is still reeling from the devastating effects of Cyclone Idai induced floods which barreled through the country in March this year.
Government declared the cyclone which caused considerable damage to properties, livelihoods and infrastructure a national disaster.
