The government says it has deployed an inter-ministerial team to the Beitbridge Border Post to support Zimbabweans returning from South Africa as part of what it describes as a reintegration programme aimed at ensuring their safe, orderly and dignified return.
According to the Government, the team is assisting with the reception of returnees, coordinating the repatriation process, facilitating border clearance and providing on-the-ground support. Authorities also say duty concessions have been extended to eligible returnees, while schools have been directed to enrol returning children to minimise disruptions to their education.
The measures were announced during a joint Government media briefing in Harare on Monday by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Zhemu Soda and Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo.
Speaking about the deployment, Soda said officials were stationed at Beitbridge around the clock to assist returning Zimbabweans.
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“To ensure the seamless receiving of returnees, an inter-ministerial team has been deployed and is currently stationed at Beitbridge, working around the clock to facilitate smooth border clearance and provide on-the-ground support to every returning citizen,” Soda said.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Edgar Moyo, added that government officials were working with humanitarian organisations at the Beitbridge Border Post to assist returnees.
“We have people who are also there helping with the profiling and the tracing and so on. We also have UNICEF, we have the Red Cross and many others,” said Moyo.
Meanwhile, the infromation minister also said the Treasury had extended duty concessions previously granted to holders of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) to qualifying returnees.
“Treasury has extended the concessions previously granted to Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP) holders to our current returnees under the immigrant rebate of duty on the same terms and conditions. This is subject to appropriate evaluation to limit potential abuse by qualifying individuals,” he said.
According to Soda, qualifying returnees will also be allowed to import one motor vehicle under suspension of customs duty, although value-added tax (VAT) will still apply.
“For motor vehicles, returnees may import one motor vehicle under suspension of duty, while Zimbabwe Value Added Tax (VAT) remains payable. ZIMRA will apply flexible evaluation terms to ensure that the VAT burden is minimal. No permit is required for vehicles above the age of 10 years. The exempted vehicle must have been purchased prior to the expiry of the ZEP, that is before 31 December 2022,” he said.
He added that the concessions also cover household goods and business equipment.
“For personal property and equipment of a commercial nature, a rebate of duty will apply to personal and household property, as well as property of a commercial nature that returnees were using in their businesses,” said Soda.
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