Customs Clearing Zimbabwe, ZIMRA Licensed, All Border Posts
We handle the declarations, the duty, and the ZIMRA liaison. You receive your goods.
The Never Do This List
An illegal shortcut is a dead end. Every item below costs importers their goods, their money, and sometimes their freedom. Read it, save it, share it.
Never attempt to bribe a customs official
This is a criminal offence under Zimbabwe's Prevention of Corruption Act. ZIMRA has an active anti corruption campaign and a zero tolerance policy. If you offer a bribe, you will be prosecuted. The penalty is a fine of up to USD 5,000 or imprisonment for up to 3 years.
If a customs officer asks you for a bribe, report it to the ZIMRA Anti Corruption Unit immediately.
Never under declare the value of your goods
This is fraud. ZIMRA has access to international valuation databases, manufacturer records, and market pricing. If they determine you have under declared, they charge the full duty plus a penalty of up to twice the duty avoided. On larger consignments, the penalty alone can exceed the value of the goods.
It is never worth the risk.
Never smuggle goods
Smuggling means importing or exporting goods with the intent to evade duty. If you are caught, the goods are permanently confiscated. You do not get the option to pay the duty and keep them. You also face a fine of up to USD 2,000 and potential imprisonment.
Commercial vehicles and trucks used for smuggling are also seized.
Never hide items in your car, truck, boot, or luggage
ZIMRA operates state of the art non intrusive scanners at Beitbridge, Chirundu, Forbes Mutare, Plumtree, Victoria Falls and Harare Airport. The scanner sees inside a container in under a minute. It sees inside a suitcase in seconds.
Hiding items increases suspicion rather than avoiding it. Declare everything. It is always faster and cheaper.
Never bring prohibited or restricted items
This includes drugs (including dagga), unregistered medicines, pornographic material, flick knives, counterfeit branded goods, and weapons. ZIMRA's sniffer dog unit, works every shift at the major border posts. They detect illegal substances inside sealed containers and sealed fuel tanks.
If you are caught, you face criminal charges that go far beyond a fine.
Never assume there are no checkpoints on the road
ZIMRA operates inland checkpoints on the Beitbridge to Harare road, the Beitbridge to Bulawayo road, the Forbes to Harare road and the Chirundu to Harare road. Officers at these checkpoints compare your customs declaration against what you are actually carrying.
If the details do not match, you are penalised on the spot. Your declaration is your passport. Carry it.
Never buy a vehicle without checking the year and origin first
Under SI 59 of 2026, vehicles 10 years or older are refused entry. A vehicle you buy in Johannesburg cannot be cleared if it fails the rule. Check the year of manufacture and the Certificate of Origin before you pay the seller.
We check it for you at no charge before purchase.
If in doubt, call us first
One phone call to +263 780 900 827 can save you a fine, a confiscated consignment, or a court appearance. We do this every day. We know what is allowed and what is not. Asking first costs nothing.
Ask Us Before You ImportThe Three Questions Everyone Asks First
We clear at all six Zimbabwe border posts: Beitbridge, Chirundu, Forbes Mutare, Plumtree, Victoria Falls and Harare Airport. One agent for every border.
What We Handle So You Don't Have To
A customs declaration is not a form. It is a legal document. Every line must match what is actually in the container. Every product code must be correct. Every value must be justifiable. If ZIMRA disagrees with anything on the declaration, your cargo sits.
George Steward has been filing Zimbabwe customs declarations since 2008. We classify goods daily. We know which product codes attract scrutiny. We know which invoices ZIMRA will query. We preempt problems before they become delays.
What is an HS code?
HS stands for Harmonised System. It is an international standard used by every customs authority in the world to classify traded goods. Every product has an HS code. A phone charger is one code, a car tyre is another, a bag of cement is another. The code determines the duty rate. Getting it wrong changes what you pay and can trigger a ZIMRA hold.
What we handle for every consignment:
- Correct HS code classification of your goods
- Preparation and submission of the Bill of Entry through ASYCUDA World
- Duty and VAT calculation based on current ZIMRA rates
- Pre lodgement before your consignment arrives at the border
- Liaison with ZIMRA assessors on any queries
- Duty payment on your behalf
- Physical examination attendance where required
- Release and collection of your goods
- Onward delivery to your premises
One team, one invoice, one point of contact.
What a Customs Clearing Agent Does in Zimbabwe
If this is your first time importing, here is what actually happens.
When cargo arrives at a Zimbabwe border post, it does not automatically enter the country. It sits in a customs controlled area until a licensed agent submits a declaration, pays the duty, and obtains release. That process is called clearing.
The declaration is called a Bill of Entry. It is filed electronically through ASYCUDA World, which is ZIMRA's customs management system. Every line of the Bill of Entry describes what is in the consignment: the goods, the quantity, the value, and the classification.
The classification is the HS code, short for Harmonised System code. Every product in the world has an HS code. Getting the code wrong changes the duty rate. That is why ZIMRA queries declarations.
Once the Bill of Entry is submitted, ZIMRA assigns an assessor. The assessor reviews the declaration and either releases it, queries it, or orders a physical examination. If released, duty is paid and the cargo is cleared. If queried, the importer or agent provides additional documentation. If examined, the container is opened and inspected against the declaration.
A clearing agent manages the entire process: from classification to release. Without an agent, an importer would have to learn ASYCUDA World, know every HS code, be present at the border, and negotiate with assessors. With an agent, the importer sends documents and receives released goods.
ZIMRA Border Posts We Cover
George Steward has representation at every major Zimbabwe entry point. We clear at all six.
Beitbridge
Zimbabwe's busiest border post. Handles the majority of commercial imports from South Africa. We clear commercial cargo, vehicles, transit goods and mining equipment here daily.
Chirundu
Main entry point for cargo from Zambia, DRC and East Africa. Common cargo includes copper, agricultural inputs and fuel.
Forbes Mutare
Entry point from Beira port. Common cargo includes fuel, timber, and goods sourced from Mozambique and the Indian Ocean corridor.
Plumtree
Entry point from Botswana, Namibia and South Africa's western corridor. Common cargo includes vehicles and general merchandise.
Victoria Falls
Northern entry point from Zambia. Common cargo includes tourism supplies, agricultural equipment and general imports.
Harare Airport
Air cargo entry point for time sensitive consignments from Dubai, China, South Africa and Europe. Common cargo includes electronics, pharmaceuticals, and samples.
How to Reduce Your Duty Legally
There is a legal way to reduce your customs duty in Zimbabwe. It is called the SADC and COMESA preferential trade agreements.
South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia and other southern African countries are SADC members. Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia and other eastern and northern African countries are COMESA members. Goods originating in those countries attract reduced or zero duty when imported into Zimbabwe.
To claim the reduced rate, you need one document: a valid Certificate of Origin issued by an authorised body in the country of export.
Without the certificate, you pay full duty. With the certificate, you save 30 to 50 percent on most goods, and up to 50 percent on vehicles.
What this looks like in practice:
A consignment from South Africa with a total value of USD 20,000:
Full duty at standard rate: USD 4,000
Reduced SADC rate: USD 2,000
Saving: USD 2,000 from one document.
The certificate must match the invoice exactly. It must be issued before the goods are collected. It must be presented at the time of assessment. If it is wrong, ZIMRA applies full duty.
We check every Certificate of Origin before your cargo leaves the point of origin. If it is wrong, we tell you before the border, not after.
ZIMRA Holds, What Happens and How We Respond
A hold is when ZIMRA does not release your cargo at first assessment. It is common. It is not a disaster. It is a problem that needs solving, quickly.
Here are the three most common reasons for a hold, and how we resolve each one.
Documents do not match the cargo
The invoice lists one thing, the packing list lists another, the container contains a third. This is the most frequent cause. We compare all three before lodgement. If they do not match, we resolve it with the supplier before the cargo reaches the border.
Missing permit for restricted categories
Pharmaceuticals, food, chemicals, mining equipment, agricultural inputs and certain other categories require import permits. If the permit is missing, ZIMRA holds the cargo. We advise on permit requirements at the quote stage, so nothing arrives without the correct documentation.
Incorrect classification
The HS code on the declaration does not match the goods. ZIMRA queries it, and the declaration has to be corrected. We classify goods correctly the first time. If ZIMRA still queries it, we answer at the assessment desk the same day.
The cost of a hold: while your cargo sits, storage accrues at the border. Demurrage can run USD 50 to 200 per day depending on the container. This is why we pre lodge entries and pre check documents. Preventing a hold is far cheaper than resolving one.
Average hold resolution time: 24 to 48 hours.
Our Fees, Fixed and Clear
Clearing fees in Zimbabwe are not a mystery. Here is exactly what we charge.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Agency fee | 2 percent of total value of goods, minimum USD 100, maximum USD 3,000 |
| Documentation | USD 30 per consignment |
| Communication and petty costs | USD 30 per consignment |
| ZIMRA duty and VAT | At cost, passed through with zero markup |
All fees quoted in USD. ZWL conversion at ZIMRA rate of exchange. You always know the total before we start. The quote we send is the quote you pay. No hidden add ons, no post clearance surprises.
What You Do, Step by Step
Send us the commercial invoice and packing list
One email or WhatsApp message with the supplier name, product, quantity, and expected arrival at the border. That is enough to start.
Get a full quote within 4 hours
Clearing fee, duty estimate, and total landed cost. Fixed. No hidden add ons later.
Approve and pay the deposit
You approve the quote and pay the deposit. We pre lodge the ASYCUDA entry before the cargo arrives at the border.
We handle the border
We file the Bill of Entry, respond to ZIMRA queries, and arrange duty payment. You receive an update by email or phone call at every stage.
Receive your goods
Once ZIMRA releases the cargo, we coordinate delivery to your address in Zimbabwe. You receive all documents by email for your records.
Protect Your Consignment
Every consignment we clear can be insured. Marine and transit cover protects your goods from origin to door. Ask for your insurance quote when you request your clearing quote.
Learn About Cargo Insurance →"I import spare parts from Dubai every month. George Steward handles the clearing at Beitbridge and the delivery to my shop in Harare. Duty is always what they quoted me upfront. No surprises, no delays."Tino Chikuni, Owner, Spare Parts Shop, Harare
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a customs clearing agent do in Zimbabwe?
How long does customs clearance take at Beitbridge?
What happens if ZIMRA holds my goods?
Can I reduce my customs duty legally?
How do I appoint George Steward as my clearing agent?
What are the penalties for under declaring goods in Zimbabwe?
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